Georgia Ave., Bend, OR 97703 t. 541-383-0800 bendsource.com info@bendsource.com
Central Oregon and beyond. She strives to create work with intention that’s inspiring, warm and timeless. “It was a pleasure working with local author and poet Ellen Waterston and capturing her lovely portrait for the cover. As the Poet Laureate, I wanted to capture Waterston in her element with a pen and paper in hand while being out in nature.” You can view more of her work on her portfolio website and Instagram: savannahkaree.com and @savannahkaree. Call for Artists: If you're interested in being a SW featured artist, email: production@bendsource.com.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
EDITOR
Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com
REPORTER
Julianna LaFollette- reporter@bendsource.com
FEATURES AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
Jennifer Baires - features@layitoutfoundation.org
REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR
Savannah Mendoza - calendar@bendsource.com
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Chris Young - music@bendsource.com
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Sally Compton
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Jared Rasic, Jessica Sanchez-Millar, James Keane, Burt Gershater, Brian Yaeger, Anne White
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Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsney, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Jen Sorensen, Pearl Stark, Tom Tomorrow, Matt Wuerker
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Ben Irish - design@bendsource.com
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Ashley Sarvis
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
I don’t know about you, but I’m clinging to the last remnants of summer, even as the kids in my life go back to school, the nights get cool and over here at our offices, we launch our political endorsement process. This week’s Source reflects that change in the seasons: A Chow story about kid-food spots to try for busy parents; an Opinion piece about our endorsement process and a News story covering who’s running in November, following the August 30 deadline for filing in many local races. In this week’s Feature, we have a deeper conversation with local poet Ellen Waterston, who’s the newest Ore gon Poet Laureate. In Sound, we chat with the organizers of the Cascade Equinox Festival about the offerings for the fest that happens just on the cusp of summer and fall. That’s just a sampling of what’s inside — thanks, as always, for reading!
LIGHTMETER: PRESENTED
BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS
“What
we fear of doing most is usually what we most need to do,”
Ralph Wald Emerson. Thank you so much @jaydo_ventures for tagging us in this beautiful photo of Mount Bachelor at sunrise. Don't forget to share your photos with us and tag @sourceweekly for a chance to be featured as Instagram of the week and
@jaydo_ventures Instagram
Healthy Adventures Await!
OPINION
Food and Music are Fun, but Endorsements are Still the Most Important Things We Do
his week, the first slate of candidates running in the November election will join us in our conference room for a longstanding tradition: We ask questions, they answer, and sometimes rebut what their opponents say. We record the whole thing for you to watch at your leisure.
Not long after, we share our view on the best candidate in the race.
Our endorsement interview process is not exactly a debate, but with candidates with often-opposing views in the room, it’s certainly an exercise in contrast. Our process is geared toward selecting the candidates we believe will serve our community best — but that’s just part of it. Going through this early on in the political process, often before a candidate becomes an elected official, allows us to understand who candidates are and what they stand for. It lets us to begin to develop relationships that often extend years into the future. When it comes time to write a news story that involves one of the candidates we met with, those earlier interviews give us a baseline of knowledge. (To be clear, our reporting team takes part in the interview process but does not make endorsement decisions.)
That’s why endorsements matter to us, as journalists.
But endorsements should matter to readers, too. As the November election approaches, we meet the fact that we’re the only media outlet continuing to do them as a serious disappointment. With the EO Media newspaper dropping that responsibility as of this year, readers no longer have a slate of media outlets with which to compare and contrast endorsement perspectives.
Every schmo on TikTok can offer an
opinion about anything under the sun — but most of those are not informed opinions, based on year-round reporting on the issues.
Media plays an integral role in helping people understand elections — who’s running, what’s at stake, what might be pulsing under the surface and not immediately discernable from campaign literature or the voter’s pamphlet.
When this newspaper launched nearly 30 years ago, our mission was to give voice to the underdogs, the rebels, the invisible masses whose voices were drowned out by a majority that appeared unconcerned about anything beyond the status quo. That dynamic has changed as our city has exploded in size, but the mission remains the same.
Every year, we have invested in our community in this way — spending time and resources in the name of seeking the best possible outcomes for this community. It’s an informed approach. We tell you what we think about the candidates and measures in an election, based on our year-round interactions with the issues and the electeds who make the decisions that affect everyone’s lives. For the busy local with many competing priorities, we think that’s a service worth investing in. It’s too bad that the non-local owners of the semi-daily don’t agree with that approach any longer. We realize it’s easier and often more profitable, when you’re not local, to back out of the endorsement process. Perhaps the effects of abdicating this responsibility are less deeply felt across the miles. But for this editorial board, endorsements will remain one of the most important things we do for our community.
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!
WEEDS
Humans need to stop meddling, let nature take its course and avoid weeding out less desirables. We treat species as if some were weeds. All sentient beings have a right to survival. We have no right to eliminate some that are not to our liking. Killing is wrong. Barred owls are being eliminated in favor of spotted owls. Seals are killed in favor of salmon. I miss the mourning doves that used to visit my garden but I have no intention of murdering the more aggressive Eurasian collared doves. Live and let live... let's stop playing God.
—Calli Madrone
BEND TREE CODE APPEAL
I was one of the two arborists who sat on the Tree Regulation Update Advisory Committee which helped to create Bend’s new tree code. It saddens me to see that three other members of the committee support an appeal to the new code. While we can all have a difference of opinion, I believe it’s insincere to state that the code was hastily put into place or that the amendments failed to acknowledge the concerns of the developer community.
At the very beginning of the process, the committee liaisons outlined the concern of the housing crisis here in Bend. Each aspect of the new code was researched using existing codes from other similarly sized towns, and
thoroughly debated in a room of diverse opinions and expertise. Seven of the 14 members came from the design, development or build communities, and all sides were able to share thoughts and concerns. Nearly all of the votes were split by narrow margins, with victories on either side of the “aisle.” What resulted is a balanced and moderate code. The City has also been very vocal that the code will be reassessed on an annual basis, and changes will be made based on feedback and outcomes.
While costs may increase, so too will the value of our community. Trees provide an immense number of benefits to the urban environment, and the new code attempts to capture this value and invest it into a more sustainable and livable Bend.
—Chris Madison
RE: A JOINT EFFORT
TO APPEAL BEND’S TREE CODE. NEWS, 8/29
The rich always complain where there is the possibility of something cutting into their profits. Per usual they will just roll the cost into the buyer's purchase price, but will continue to whine about costs regardless.
"The parties involved are calling for the city to pause and amend key elements that better balance community housing concerns." I refer back to my statement above.
It's never enough for these guys...
community wellbeing and concerns be damned. After all, increased profits supersede all else.
—Sonja Wernke via bendsource.com
Lets take a look at the opposition here. Builders and realtors??? Hmmm, Please let’s keep in mind that Pahlisch and Brooks Resources are not building affordable housing.
They are both culprits of destroying wildlife habitats, and when it has been brought to their attention, they dismiss it. Developers own this town, and let’s hope for once our city doesn’t grab their ankles for the developers. They destroyed all but a few trees from two lots in our neighborhood, leaving mother birds distraught and nests with baby birds and eggs smashed without any consideration for the wildlife. The great horned owls that used to hoot nightly, gone. Deer don’t have a place to rest. Not a care for the relationship we have and need with nature. This is the problem with developers; it’s all about the almighty dollar.
—Nicole Perullo via bendsource.com
THE WILDFIRE REPORTING OF JENNIFER BAIRES
Wanted to send mega kudos along for the reporting of Jennifer Baires. Her investigation into and reporting
on wildfires in the West and specifically in Central Oregon...and those who are trained to fight them... has been and continues to be excellent. Thorough, clear, detailed and documented. Baires has given us a master class in how good journalism works. I hope you will turn her loose on other issues that need the skill she brings to her craft.
—Bruce Cummings
Letter of the Week:
Bruce: I have a little (tongue-incheek) “rule” around here: Praise the editor’s work, get Letter of the Week. This week, I extend the policy to the work of our reporting team as well! And we look forward to sharing more of Baires’ investigative work in the weeks and months to come. Thanks for writing in. Come on by for your gift card to Palate.
—Nicole
Vulcan
A local effort to buy Mt. Bachelor
A group of community members are looking to create a local effort to purchase Mt. Bachelor. On Aug. 22, POWDR Corporation, the current owners of Mt. Bachelor and several other ski resorts across the county, announced it will sell the resort.
Central Oregon Daily reported Aug. 28 that locals are looking at ways to buy and operate Mt. Bachelor. Residents Dan Cochrane and Chris Porter organized a meeting with interested parties last week to talk about next steps. The first step, they told CO Daily, is a feasibility study to look at the numbers. After CO Daily reported the story, the group stated it received over 1,000 emails from people about their efforts.
—Julianna LaFollette
Local Election Recap A list of candidates in the local races in the general election
By Julianna LaFollette
AThe number of endemic plants — or plants found nowhere else on Earth — found in the Owyhee Canyonlands.
- From the Nature story, “The Many and Unique Plants of the Owyhee Canyonlands.”
ugust 30 was the filing deadline for some candidates running in the November election. With that, here’s a recap of the races and candidates voters will have on their ballots in the local area.
Oregon’s 5th Congressional District
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the current Republican House representative, is seeking reelection. After serving on the City Council in Happy Valley, ChavezDeRemer became the first female and Latina mayor in 2010, and was re-elected in 2014.
Democrat Janelle Bynum will be running against Chavez-DeRemer in the general election. Bynum is an engineer, a small business owner and currently serves as a State Representative.
Oregon Senate – 27th District
“IPA obviously dominates craft beer. We're definitely going to brew our fair share under that umbrella, but we're going to be very careful to not have our lineup dominated by IPAs.”
—Byron
Pyka, from the Craft story, “Terranaut Beer Sets Sail in Bend.”
Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman is running for the Senate seat, which is currently held by Tim Knopp. Broadman, running as a Democrat, has served on the City Council since 2020, was Mayor Pro Tem in 2022, and is an attorney for tribal government and small businesses.
Current Redmond School Board member Michael Summers is running as a Republican. Summers is a longtime Central Oregonian, serves as the Chair for the Redmond School Board and was a drummer for a local band.
Orgon House – 53rd District
Emerson Levy, the current representative, is running for reelection this year. Levy lives in Bend and describes herself as a mom, attorney and educator. Keri Lopez, running as a Republican, serves as director for the Redmond School Board and currently works in the homebuilding industry alongside her husband.
House – 54th District
Jason Kropf, current representative, is running unopposed for reelection. Kropf spent his career as a public defender, served Deschutes County
as a Deputy District Attorney and has worked on several local boards.
Deschutes County Sheriff
William (Bill) Bailey, a current Captain in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is running for the Sheriff position. Bailey served in the U.S. Coast Guard and has held a number of positions with the DCSO for over 20 years. Kent Vander Kamp, the other candidate for Sheriff, serves on the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team for DCSO. Vander Kamp owned a financial solution business but decided to suspend operations in June.
Bend City Council
Running for position #1 on the City Council are Megan Norris and Jonathan A. Curtis. Norris, a current councilor appointed by fellow councilors, works with Hayden Homes, is a board mmeber for Deschutes Children’s Foundation and serves on a number of City committees. Curtis describes himself on Facebook as a “patriot social media influencer.” In his social media biography, he said he’s an ex-firefighter and an advocate for autism.
Gina Franzosa is running unopposed for position #2 on the Bend City Council. Franzosa works as an affordable housing developer and project manager. She’s also a volunteer member on four city committees and has a background in engineering and the environment.
Current City Councilor Megan Perkins and Nick Cerveny are running for position #3 on the Council. Perkins serves as Mayor Pro Tem, co-founded nonprofit Embrace Bend and serves on a number of committees. Cerveny spent 12 years in the U.S. Army, has experience managing a small business and said he has been active in the community to help veterans.
Barb Campbell is seeking reelection for position #4 on the Bend City Council. Two others, Steve Platt and Chet Wamboldt, are challenging Campbell for the seat. Campbell has worked as the director of a daycare center, in
construction and hospitality and as a teacher. Platt is a is a military veteran, Bend Budget Committee member and has taught high school physics and climate science for the past six years. Wamboldt currently works as a project manager for a consulting group, has worked in development and volunteers in his church ministry as a mentor to young men.
Redmond City Council
Running for the Mayor’s seat in Redmond are current mayor Ed Fitch, Cat Zwicker and Charles Baer. Fitch has lived in Redmond for 40 years, works at a law office and previously served a City Attorney for the City of Redmond. Zwicker is a current city councilor as well as a small business owner, community volunteer and Redmond resident of over 24 years. Baer is a resident, a self-proclaimed depopulationist and has lived in Redmond since 2019.
Current councilors Tobias Colvin, Clifford B Evelyn, Jay Patrick and Shannon Wedding are running for reelection. Redmond resident Alan Lawyer is also running for the council. With three openings, the three candidates with the highest number of votes will win.
Colvin has worked in hospitality for over 22 years, serves as general manager of SCP Redmond Hotel and is part of the Redmond Downtown Association. Evelyn is a retired law enforcement officer, the executive board president for nonprofit New Priorities Family Services and a former U.S. Navy Petty Officer.
Patrick currently works with technology in schools and serves on the council to give back to the community. Wedding worked as a civil engineer for 16 years and has experience with Emergency Response Planning and Management Plans for large scale natural disasters. Lawyer was a mechanic and served in the U.S. Navy. He started his own water quality business and worked for the City of Redmond wastewater treatment plant.
Deschutes County Phases in Deflection
Starting Sept. 1, counties can began diverting individuals to drug treatment. Law enforcement training on the issue is still forthcoming.
By Julianna LaFollette
Astatewide law rolling back portions of Measure 110 officially started on Sept. 1, recriminalizing drug possession and connecting people to treatment as an alternative to court and jail. Deschutes County plans to slowly introduce its deflection program over this next month, to ensure officers and treatment coordinators are trained and prepared for this new process.
Lawmakers passed HB 4002 in March to help address Oregon’s drug crisis through implementing a state-funded collaborative effort between law enforcement and the behavioral health system, encouraging community-based treatment.
While Oregon’s drug decriminalization citizen initiative, Measure 110, offered funds to expand drug treatment capacity, issues came with the lack of incentives to get people into treatment, according to officials.
HB 4002 addresses the increased use of drugs while giving law enforcement the tools to confiscate drugs, stop public drug use and get people into treatment, focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration.
The bill gives counties the ability to create their own deflection programs, giving them the power to implement what they think would work best in their respective areas. While the process may differ from county to county, each will get funding and assistance to help move the process along.
HB 5204, passed alongside HB 4002, increases investments to expand behavioral health treatment capacity, training for health workers, Medication Assisted Treatment in jails, addiction prevention programs, drug courts and criminal justice system capacity.
“This whole setup for HB 4002 isn’t necessarily just to criminalize drugs again. It really is to hold people accountable but still focus with police officers on getting people help. And that’s going to change a paradigm,” said Michael Shults, the corrections division commander with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Deschutes County deflection
While Deschutes County Behavioral Health initially planned to head up the local deflection program, county officials decided in May to model its program after Marion County, which puts the Sheriff’s Office in charge of deflection. According to Holly Harris, the Deschutes County Behavioral Health director, this allows for a more direct connection to individuals.
In 2018, Marion County created a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
program which follows the same system as deflection programs, allowing law enforcement to divert low-level offenders away from criminal justice services and toward social services.
In Deschutes County, a person who encounters law enforcement and is charged with drug possession will have the opportunity to request a referral to drug treatment. A designated coordinator, hired by DSCO, will oversee connecting individuals in need of treatment to the providers, initiating the diversion.
According to District Attorney Steve Gunnels, who has played a big part in getting this program on the ground, police will have the discretion to request that someone also charged with other crimes be con sidered for deflection if they believe its appropriate.
JuliannaLaFollette
discussion all around the state, but will likely be up to the treatment providers.
“They’re the experts on that topic, so I’ll defer to them. If they say that a person has completed, then that means that we will close up the criminal referral for the charge.”
Other indications of success will be identified through data and continued evaluation of the program.
To keep track of the success, the Oregon Drug Intervention Plan, created out of HB 5204, requires reporting and data collection around the rollout of the law to ensure equitable enforcement, safer communities and expanded treatment.
Those working with and encountering people who may have addiction issues, such as defense attorneys, prosecutors and probation officers, will also have the ability to refer someone for deflection.
While many collaborative meetings have helped local partners determine the process and goals, the referral process will likely be phased in.
“It’s going to be up to each department to decide when they start making referrals,” said Gunnels. “The departments, I believe, want to have uniform training on the issue across the department before they start.”
According to Shults with DCSO, a training is scheduled for mid-September, in which officers will receive information and curriculum on the referral process. According to Gunnels, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t refer someone to deflection between now and whenever training is complete.
While the process has been accelerated for the counties taking part, guidance from Marion County, along with local buy-in from partners, has made Shults optimistic about the program. Offering people the opportunity to get help, he said, will change things for the better.
“If we start hearing ‘yeses,’ then that person’s life will change forever, and if not, for a short period of time. And if they relapse, well, we’ll try it again,” he said.
The road to success
While the program incentivizes the completion of drug treatment, parameters around how and when someone completes treatment have yet to fully be defined. That topic, he said, has been a
Redmond Airport Offers Update on Expansion Project
The airport expansion project, expected to start next summer, will address increased demands
By Julianna LaFollette
“We’re going to continue to try to improve the program as we go, and if we see flaws with it, we’ll try to eliminate them and make the program better,” said Gunnels.
Kent Vander Kamp, who’s among two candidates running for Deschutes County Sheriff in the November election, is hopeful about this new chapter in addressing drug addiction. After being in drug enforcement for years, notably as the Sergeant for the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, he noted his continued support for intervention programs. The new program, he said, will give law enforcement the tools to better address public safety.
“I am committed to working closely with all of the stakeholders to ensure the initiative's success,” said Vander Kamp.
William Bailey, the other candidate in the running for sheriff, believes deflection will be successful through supporting an individual when they decide to accept help.
"As Sheriff, I will continue to support the program any way that I can," he said.
According to Gunnels, the DA’s office is ready to start the program whenever the criminal referrals begin coming in, but he expects that the program will be in full swing by October.
Gunnels, who was the drug court prosecutor for a number of years, is a big believer in drug treatment and remains hopeful that Deschutes County can make this a successful program.
“I’ve seen drug treatment work. It takes a good program, but is also takes, probably most importantly, commitment from the people who are addicted to drugs to get better, and this program will give them an opportunity to get better if they choose to take advantage of it,” said Gunnels.
An expansion to the Redmond Airport is coming closer as the design, cost and timeline continue to take shape. On Aug. 27, Redmond Airport Director Zachary Bass presented an update on the expansion to Redmond City Councilors, highlighting design options, construction, funding and timelines.
The airport is about 40% through the project’s design phase, said Bass, offering a series of renderings of the inside and outside of the planned expansion. Most of the additions, Bass noted, will occur on the second floor of the airport, which will connect to a brand-new nearly 60,000 square foot concourse. The new concourse will include seen jet bridges and new retail and concessions.
The project is estimated to cost about $170 million and will be paid for through state and federal funding, grants and an Airport Bond. Revenue from the airport, including money from parking and concessions, will also go toward funding the expansion. Taxpayers will not be directly paying for any of the expansion project, Bass told the Source Weekly.
To respond to an increase in demand, and better serve the growing population and travelers, airport officials recognized a need to evolve and grow. In 2019, the airport had 482,767 passengers boarding aircrafts, a number not anticipated until 2024, according to the Redmond Municipal Airport Terminal Area Concept Plan.
The expansion and modifications will accommodate capacity demands, improve ADA accessibility, increase energy efficiency and enhance passenger experience. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2025.
The expansion design will likely evolve as the project progresses.
Courtesy Redmond Municipal Airport
your
listen watch playexplore learn and more read card
September is Library Card
Sign-up Month
Use your library card to check out everything from books and DVDs to museum passes and sewing machines. You can even stream movies and download eBooks and audiobooks on the go.
Library cards are FREE for Deschutes County residents. Get your card today by applying online at dpl.pub/getacard , or stop by your local library to get a card in person.
Un
Por Julianna LaFollette / Traducido por Jéssica Sánchez-Millar
El 6 de agosto, Aug. 6, Pahlisch Homes, una compañía local constructora de viviendas, presentó una apelación al código de árboles de la ciudad de Bend, pidiendo a la ciudad detener sus reglamentos nuevos recientemente implementados.
El 28 de agosto, otros comercios y organizaciones locales se unieron al esfuerzo, reafirmando que el nuevo código de árboles causará efectos en la vivienda en Bend. Entre los que se unieron al movimiento se encuentran Brooks Resources, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, Central Oregon Builders Association, Empire Construction and Development, Hayden Homes y Bend Yimby, abreviado para “Yes In My Backyard”
El 20 de junio, el Ayuntamiento de Bend aprobó los reglamentos actualizados sobre los árboles, intentando aclarar cómo y cuándo se pueden quitar los árboles en los nuevos desarrollos. Las enmiendas establecen que si se quita
un cierto porcentaje de árboles en una obra, los constructores deberán plantar árboles nuevos en el lugar o realizar un pago para la preservación del árbol.
El código de árboles entró en efecto el 16 de agosto.
El comunicado de prensa del 28 de agosto por parte de Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA por sus siglas en inglés), declaró que el nuevo código hará que la construcción en terrenos res idenciales sea más difícil y costosa. Esto, dijo COBA, desanimará o impedirá la construcción de viviendas, lo que hará más difícil aumentar el abasto de vivendas en Bend, mientras que agregará costos a la vivienda.
la vivienda comunitaria.
“Estamos pidiendo a los líderes electos de la ciudad de Bend que reconsideren y tomen otro intento para hacer un mejor trabajo al estabilizar una necesidad prioritaria en esta comunidad con la preservación de árboles,” dijo Jim Roberts de Bend YIMBY, en un comunicado de prensa.
Las partes involucradas están pidiendo a la ciudad haga una pausa y modifique elementos clave que estabilicen de mejor manera las preocupaciones sobre
El Comité Asesor de Actualización de la Regulación de Árboles, que ayudó con la recomendación de enmiendas al código de árboles de la ciudad, se creó en junio e incluyó a 14 miembros de la comunidad con una variedad de puntos de vista, incluidos varios dentro del sector de desarrollo. Cory Bittner de Pahlish y Morgan Greenwood con COBA se encontraban entre los 14 miembros.
Organizaciones participantes en la
apelación esperan que la ciudad acepte reunirse para disminuir el impacto a la vivienda y al mismo tiempo proteger los árboles.
“El costo de vivienda es una preocupación para bastantes personas y los empleadores en la comunidad,” dijo Morgan Greenwood, vicepresidente de Asuntos Gubernamentales de COBA. “Este movimiento para intervenir es un intento para hacer que el consejo municipal regrese a la mesa en beneficio de las familias trabajadoras que no pueden pagar costos de vivienda más altos. Al colaborar juntos creemos que podemos encontrar un mejor modelo para el código de árboles que logre los objetivos de conservación Y que sea responsable de las preocupaciones de vivienda de la comunidad”.
- Editor's Note: The English version of this story is available online at bendsource. com.
by
Teasing the Muse with Oregon’s Poet Laureate
Ellen
Waterston was named the state’s
“official
poet”
last month. In this conversation, the High Desert author, teacher and poet muses on journalism, inspiration and the importance of connection
By Nicole Vulcan
In the United States, 45 of our 50 states have an official poet laureate designation — empowering one local wordsmith in each state to promote the appreciation of reading, writing and creativity in general. In Oregon, that person is now Central Oregon’s own Ellen Waterston, who’s been promoting the beauties of the written word through workshops, classes, events and more for decades. We at the Source Weekly are also proud to publish her column on ageism and ageing, “The Third Act,” the fourth week of each month.
We published a news story on her appointment to the position of Oregon Poet Laureate by Gov. Tina Kotek last month, but in this feature, we take a deeper dive with Waterston about the purpose of poetry, how she got started, what Artificial Intelligence brings to the creative process and so much more. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Source Weekly: When we did our initial interview with you about the Poet Laureate designation, you talked about being an elder, and hoping to help people recognize the experience and value that elders bring. That said, you’ve also said that working with youth is a big goal.
Ellen Waterston: Part of the mission, generally, for the Poet Laureate, is to visit schools, work with classrooms, work with, from what I gather, high school students, but middle students as well.
So when I go to communities, my hope is to work with community centers
and or other gathering places for those of us of a certain age, and also with the youth and have that be side by side, you know? So, I am not exclusively focusing on elders. What I picture, for example, is maybe a reading at the end of visiting a community and working with a bunch of people, and then maybe an elder and a student and I do some something together.
SW: I’m curious about a time when you were a budding writer, and you weren't sure what it was all about, or what you were doing and how you moved through it.
EW: Well, I guess the story is that I had what so many people talk about — a teacher in high school who woke me up to the power of the written word and also poetry. So I was at a school — not unusual on the East Coast — off to a boarding school for the high school years, in New Hampshire. Robert Frost came and visited the campus. And so between that and this English teacher, it clicked. And I'm from a household that words mattered, OK, so it just started to feel like home. It felt like home. It did. I think it probably must be a feeling other artists experience when they find the discipline that they want to put more time into.
SW: OK, so you're in high school, you feel strongly about writing and poetry, and then what do you do next?
EW: At college, it was more of a journalistic bent. I wound up studying poetry as an undergraduate, but I also
was a stringer for “Time” magazine. They appointed what they call stringers on various campuses. And if there was a national story, they would contact the stringer to see what the perspective was from that campus, if campuses were somehow implicated in the topic of the story. So that was wonderful. It started to be all that deadline stuff, and a sense of what that is. I then subsequently got a job on a magazine, still as an undergraduate, during the summer, at “Boston” magazine. That was a little more featurey, but same kind of thing, where getting something produced on deadline was healthy. Not that in school there weren't “deadlines” where we had to turn it in. But it just felt like a bigger world, a bigger conversation, bigger sort of geography that your words are moving out across.
SW: I'm always curious about — obviously, this is my own path too — choosing journalism as a way to be able to write and get paid and have something out in the world. Do you still see that as a viable path for young writers?
EW: Often in my workshops, people will say, I'm not really a writer, I've just been doing tech writing, or I'm not really a writer, I've just been writing promo pieces. And frankly, all of it is training, as you well know. All of it is training about stringing words together in a way that moves a reader in a direction or another. And in creative writing, it's a big, big landscape. There’s a lot of colors in that box of paints that you can choose
to work with. So it gets more exciting. But I think that that kind of training of being on deadline, having to produce something in writing, and of course — I don't even know what to say about AI and its assistance in this regard now, but of course, that didn't exist before. You were on your own.
SW: I mean, one personal aside. I'm recording this into an AI transcription service that generates the transcription instantly, and in the end, gives me a summary of what we talked about. It's incredible.
EW: I hope you put that in the article!
SW: It doesn't always pick up on nuance around every topic, but it's pretty dang slick. But that gets me thinking. We had an interview. I interviewed you one on one. I asked you to do this. I could also easily just generate a quick little story from the summary. Is that too far? Is that my creative process? A lot of questions around that.
EW: Is there's something to me that the experience, the thrill, especially in creative writing, perhaps in professional writing, which an interview kind of is, but in creative writing, obviously there are ways to use this AI similarly to what you're doing right now. But I really feel that experiencing the collision of certain words side by side, and what that opens up and where that takes you. It's just limited. It's, it's like some sort of bubble wrap or something that's been put around the creative process.
Photo
Savannah Mendoza
There's beauty
in
the expression of pain and loss,
and there's beauty in the expression
of — I want to say hope, but I don't know if I really want to say hope — just the commitment to carrying on, just the belief that life and humans are capable of better.
—Ellen Waterson
I feel when I work with people, one on one in workshops, and I see these little mini explosions of creativity — it can't happen. I don't think it can happen with AI, because it's like, there's somebody else in the bed.
SW: It's certainly going to be become a thing throughout your tenure. I'm sure even more than it is right this second. It's going to come up a lot.
EW: Yes, it will.
SW: What is something that you're working on right now in the poetry space that you're excited about?
EW: Before the Poet Laureate appointment, I had started a new collection of poetry. A lot of it has been prompted by the opportunity to write poems for a variety of functions that are taking place out in nature in Oregon — for land use groups, for In a Landscape — that being Hunter Noack, with his grand piano, showing up in locations all over Oregon and the West, and I being invited to present a poem in conjunction with a concert, that kind of thing. And they start to be a sort of geography lessons, in a way. And so, I'm expanding on that. And I'm on track to produce a new collection pretty soon.
SW: As part of this story, we’re publishing a couple of your poems. Share a little about the theme of those.
EW: What I want to do is reinforce the high desert-ness of this appointment; of this writer; of this language. I want to share my gratitude to Tina Kotek, to the Oregon Cultural Trust and to Oregon Humanities for keeping this going, for keeping the poet laureateship going in the state, and by virtue of the fact that I'm a poet east of the Cascades.
SW: What in your mind do programs like the Poet Laureate bring to a community?
EW: I think the fact that this state designates a poet to be the ambassador for poetry in whatever way they design, whatever way shape or form it takes, given each individual poet that receives this appointment, in and of itself is just magic, right? And there are many, many states that also have Poets Laureate, and there are some that do not. What I see is that it underscores, again, back to what we were originally saying. It underscores the importance of communication, all the ways we can communicate, and particularly with poetry, with the compression of emotion, of description, of the senses, basically a compression of story. And you know, it doesn't have to be two stances, it doesn't have
to be a haiku. It can be a ballad, it can be a narrative poem. So poetry is very, very flexible. It's enormously elastic. And however, to designate someone to go about the state and encourage people to think creatively with writing. It's so exciting to me, because I've spent a long time on the soapbox trying to get people to love words, and I'm just honored to have the opportunity to do this.
SW: Picking up on that — the part about all the ways we can communicate. Is it a poet laureate's job to address things like climate change and gun violence, racism, existential threats?
EW: I don't know if you saw the article today in “The New York Times” about this wonderful teacher who continues to teach in Ukraine, and asking her students to express what they're feeling about being up close and personal with war, losing friends, having to move, evacuate, there's towns being destroyed. There's beauty in the expression of pain and loss, and there's beauty in the expression of — I want to say hope, but I don't know if I really want to say hope — just the commitment to carrying on, just the belief that life and humans are capable of better. And so, to your question about, should we talk about climate change and politics and racism? Yeah, I mean, I think part of the conversation is, how do we embrace each other through words? And what's in the way of that, what's in the way of that embrace. And there are many, many efforts, the High Desert Partnership in Burns, right? That brings all kinds of people together to talk about — whether they're involved with government, whether they're involved with environmental organizations, whether they are ranchers, whether they're citizens, whatever, to try to find common ground, right, this notion of common ground.
So I think poetry is one way to get there, and it's a way that I love, and I'm happy to put time into trying to get there through encouraging the use, as I say, of language to express the “something” that's not a policy statement, not a rant — except there is a form of poetry called rants — but just not the kind of anger, just sort of gratuitous anger that we so see everywhere. Let's peel this onion. Let's get behind it.
More on Oregon’s Poet Laureate program, and upcoming events: culturaltrust.org/oregon-poet-laureate
Life Is Uncertain
by Ellen Waterston
All he wants, when surveying the windrows, the fresh bales, when nursing purpled nail and blistered palm, is to know she’ll be waiting for him at home in the evening and he can ask her, Do you remember…
When last February’s record-breaking snow buckled the barn roof, the melt flooding the fields and filling the daylight basement? How he joked he had to swim to bed, wear irrigation boots to shoot pool?
When the Pandora moth carcasses were so thick last June they piled up like snow drifts under the streetlights in town, the wings and antennae like frail dusky ferns on the pavement?
In August, when the swallows suddenly left, their acrobatics and tart chirps no longer spicing the evening, their empty mud-daub nests like featureless faces mouthing no, no? How bereft he was, rattled, to see them go. No sign of them since or now.
When the greasy smoke from the forest fires never lifted all fall, the water in the swollen reservoirs and nursing rivers recruited until dry, the sun an angry orange coming and going in the sky, throwing bloody flames when eclipsed by the moon? How he’d shuddered at the sudden darkness and cold.
Or when the Pioneer Saloon stopped serving dessert, not even spoon cake? How, without dessert, without anything sweet, the way the world was going to hell in a hand basket, he didn’t know what to eat first. He wasn’t joking anymore.
All he wants, when surveying another season, is for her to be there, waiting for him at home in the evening and he can ask, Do you remember when…we couldn’t have said any of this? She’ll take his calloused hand in hers and nod and say yes.
-From the author: “Life is Uncertain” addresses the sense of helplessness and the need to feel safe in the face of climate changes...in this case relative to events that have occurred in the high desert.
Designed to Fly
by Ellen Waterston
After ten hours of trying the instructor undid my fingers, peeled them one by one off the joystick.
“You don’t need to hold the plane in the air,” he advised. “It’s designed to fly. A hint of aileron, a touch of rudder, is all that is required.”
I looked at him like I’d seen God. Those props and struts he mentioned, they too, I realized, all contrived.
I grew dizzy from the elevation, from looking so far down at the surmise: the airspeed of faith underlies everything. Lives are designed to fly.
-From the author: “Designed to Fly” is a metaphorical invitation to loosen our grip, to relinquish control ever so slightly and see what happens.
Proceeds benefit the food program
Presented by BASX and Cascade Natural Gas
SOURCE PICKS
WEDNESDAY 09/04
HOZIER – UNREAL UNEARTH TOUR
ALMOST (SWEET MUSIC)
Grammy Award-nominated Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Hozier finds harmony and melody amid chaos, captivating audiences worldwide with his provocative, energetic and organic live performances. On his 2024 tour, Hozier showcases his latest album “Unreal Unearth,” along with selections from his extensive catalog of hits. Wed., Sep. 4, 6:30pm at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $79.50.
FRIDAY 09/06
ERNEST
RISING COUNTRY ARTIST
Chart-topping songwriter Ernest, with eight No. 1 hits, performs live at the Subaru of Bend 2024 Summer Kickin’ Concert Series. The country singer, who creates a sound uniquely his own, continues to push the artistic status quo with his music. Catch the Nash ville-based artist in downtown Redmond. Fri., Sep. 6, 5-11pm at General Duffy’s Waterhole. 404 SW Forest Ave., Redmond. Free.
FRIDAY 09/06
BELLA BRIDES BARHOP
BAR HOPPING WITH A TWIST
Looking for a fun excuse to wear your wedding dress? The Bella Brides Barhop has you covered! Dress up for an evening of bar and shop hopping in your wedding dress, or come in white, a wedding suit or anything else that makes you feel great. A portion of all ticket sales will help CASA of Central Oregon, helping the nonprofit continue providing vital advocates for children in foster care. Fri., Sep. 6, 5-8pm, Downtown Bend. Between Wall and Bond Streets, Bend. $39.
FRIDAY
FREAK AND GEEKS 2
A GROOVY NIGHT OF DJ MUSIC
Get groovy at The Capitol at “Freaks and Geeks 2,” hosted by Groove Gala Events. Prepare for an electrified night of the top dance club hits presented by DJs @atombram and @brian_tology. Sep. 6, 9pm-2am at The Capitol. 190 NW Oregon Ave., Bend. $5.
VOLUNTEER HARVEST DAY AT TUMALO LAVENDER
A DAY FILLED WITH ALL THINGS LAVENDER
Grab your gloves and clippers and come out to Tumalo Lavender for the 3rd annual volunteer harvest day. Refreshing lavender-ade, lavender baked goods and other treats will be offered for all of the volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to learn about all things lavender out in the field. Sat., Sep. 7, 9am-4pm at Tumalo Lavender. 19825 Connarn Road., Tumalo. Free.
THE CHROMEO AFTER PARTY
OREGON OUTBACK & COWBOY DINNER TREE
FORT ROCK HIKE, MUSEUM TOUR, DINNER AND STARGAZING
Join Wanderlust Tours for a day in the Oregon outback. Head on an adventure where naturalist guides will take participants on a hike around the stunning Fort Rock and visit the Homestead Village Museum before heading to the infamous Cowboy Dinner Tree restaurant in Silver Lake for a mouth-watering meal. The journey will conclude with a night of stargazing in the high desert. Sat., Sep. 7, 3-11:30pm at Wanderlust Tours. 61535 S Hwy. 97, Bend. $245
BIGSTOCK FUNDRAISER: MARGO PRICE AND OTEIL AND FRIENDS
MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS
Hoodoo Ski Area opens its one-of-a-kind concert venue for the Bigstock Fundraiser benefiting Oregon Adaptive Sports, featuring headliner Margo Price and Oteil and Friends. Bring your own chairs and blankets and get ready for a evening of live music in a beautiful mountain setting. Sat., Sep. 7, 3-10pm at Hoodoo Ski Area. 27400 Big Lake Rd., Sisters. $125. SUNDAY
RAY LAMONTAGNE AND GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV
FOLK MUSIC SENSATIONS
With his husky voice and moving tunes, Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne crafts folk songs that are both lush and earthy. Joining him is Colorado-based indie-rock artist Gregory Alan Isakov. Experience their captivating indie music at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Sun., Sep. 8, 6pm. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $40-$150.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21
Tumalo Lavender
Thank you to our Sponsors
SOUND
WMore Than a Music Festival
Cascade Equinox Festival returns this September 20 to 22 with a stellar lineup, roller disco, workshops, interactive art and a full slate of activities for kiddos
By Chris Young
hile the Deschutes County Fairgrounds may be synonymous with rodeos, monster trucks and carnival rides, the organizers of the Cascade Equinox Festival have found it an ideal setting for a genre-melding music fest. The second annual gathering of music and art returns to Central Oregon from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22 with more than 100 artists on six stages.
From international headliners — Jungle, STS9, CloZee, Marc Rebillet, Liquid Stranger — to local talent from right here in our own backyard, the lineup is bursting with energetic, danceable music and good vibes. Off stage, there’s camping, workshops, kids’ camps, healing practitioners (massage, acupuncture, reiki, yoga, chiropractic, breathwork), off-site adventure excursions (mountain biking, horseback riding), a marketplace, a spa (with showers, sauna and cold plunge) and a farm-to-table dinner.
These experiences are the brainchild of Bend resident Toby White and Portland’s Josh Pollack and the reason why they brand Cascade Equinox as “A Festival Reimagined.” White started Arizona’s electronic Gem & Jam Festival almost 20 years ago and Pollack’s been along for the ride for more than half of those years. With Cascade Equinox, they aim to surpass the typical festival by creating “different environments that are tailored so there’s something for everyone,” White says. They always say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and Cascade Equinox embodies this truism as an amalgamation of regional talent who have been constructing unique festival experiences for decades. Stacy Koff, creator of Bend’s 4 Peaks Presents, serves as a co-promoter and associate event director, while Washington’s on-hiatus Summer Meltdown and the former Portland club The North Warehouse also have curatorial roles.
“We are all about collaboration, and as independent entities in the music industry, it’s usually beneficial to pool resources whenever possible,” Pollack explains. “This ensures a healthy ecosystem for the local music scene, where like-minded folks can help each other instead of competing. Our partnership with 4 Peaks really helped us establish some local credibility as a brand-new festival in our first year.
“For year two, we are building on that concept. Through some synchronistic communication and a bit of serendipity, we’re thrilled to have Summer Meltdown and The North Warehouse onboard as collaborators.” Feeling as though “we are all cut from the same cloth and align with our ethos,” it was only natural to join forces.
It takes a village to throw a music festival, let alone one that’s independently run. Both Summer Meltdown and The North Warehouse will take over stages, showcasing
some of their favorite acts.
Local dance music promoters and organizers like Portland’s Mount Tabor Dance Community and Bend’s SoMuchHouse will share beloved DJs as well, while 4 Peaks contributed by booking local artists, a facet that Cascade Equinox prioritizes. “Stacy [Koff] is a key part of our local curation, and her ability to source the best local talent is crucial,” Pollack says.
Central Oregonians should recognize names like Billy and the Box Kid, Leadbetter Band, TEB, Blackstrap Bluegrass, Pete Kartsounes’ DJPK, Quattlebaum, The Hasbens, Call Down Thunder, Skillethead and plenty more, plus Portlanders John Craigie, Shook Twins and High Step Society.
“Involving local talent is one of the most important factors for us when curating our lineup, and it shows in the number of our artists based not only in Central Oregon but also throughout the greater Pacific Northwest,” Pollack says.
Diversity shines through the rest of lineup, which features plenty of electronic heavyweights but also indie hip-hop trio Deltron 3030, chill, dancey vibes from Neil Frances and Poolside, Kitchen Dwellers’ bluegrass, funk from The Motet, avant-garde eclecticism from Dirtwire and Wajatta (a duo featuring comedian and beatboxer Reggie Watts and DJ/producer John Tejada).
“We wouldn’t classify Cascade Equinox solely as an electronic music festival,” White explains. “While we do feature a substantial lineup of electronic music, our festival encompasses a much broader range of genres.”
Beyond live music, there’s also live art and immersive, interactive installations presented across various mediums. “From 20-foot-tall murals being live painted to a 'Talk to God' phone booth, we strive to showcase as much imaginative and experiential art as possible,” Pollack says.
“Involving local talent is one of the most important factors for us when curating our lineup. We live here and are part of the music community, blessed with a wealth of incredibly talented musicians who deserve to be included and have their music heard.”
—JOSH POLLACK
A new addition this year is the Solar Spin roller disco, and kids 12 and under are free. “We want families to bring everyone along, creating a safe and welcoming space for all ages, and we are committed to making it as easy as possible for parents,” White says. “This year in the Orbit (kid zone), we are thrilled to offer child care through the kids’ camps,
provided by certified Waldorf teachers. This will allow parents some much-deserved date time during the festival,” while kids can do craft projects, play games and music or take workshops like drumming and capoeira. Plus, “an entire stage is set aside for children and family experiences.”
Pollack got his start in the biz throwing after-parties for STS9, so he’s “genuinely ecstatic about seeing STS9 at Cascade Equinox. Also, “they haven’t played a show in Bend for over 22 years, so saying they’re long overdue is quite an understatement.”
With shuttles running from Bend to the fairgrounds, plus a service to and from the Portland airport, or glamping and hotel package options, White and Pollack’s years of festival production show in their attention to detail and extensive offerings. For White, “It’s a dream to be able to produce a festival like this in our home region. We look at this festival as a community event and strive to be as inclusive as possible on all aspects.”
Cascade Equinox Festival Fri., Sep. 20 to Sun., Sep. 22
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center
3800 SE Airport Way, Redmond Festival grounds open each day at 11:45am
Single-day pass $127.50; three-day pass $345; all ages, kids 12 and under free cascadeequinox.com
Headliners Jungle, STS9, CloZee, Marc Rebillet and Liquid Stranger share stages with some 45 Northwest artists at the second annual Cascade Equinox Festival from Fri., Sep. 20 to Sun., Sep. 22.
Greg Bollinger
Oregon Ki Society—Bend Dojo
Six Week Introductory Course 9/21 through 10/26
Saturdays, 11:30 to 12:30 Adults of all ages welcome $125
Kiatsu (pressing with Ki) is a Japanese art that stimulates the body’s natural healing ability. Learn to correct your posture, press different parts of the body to increase vitality, develop mental and physical calmness, and activate your living power.
For more information: (541) 350-7887 • email: cfhc@hotmail.com Oregon Ki Society website: oregonki.org
Opal, HSCO Alum
CALENDAR
4 Wednesday
Bevel Craft Brewing Live Music with Silvertone Devils Come join us at Bevel for Free Live Music through September! The Silvertone Devils fuse roots rock with classic country, delivering both handcrafted tunes and energetic jams. Led by Bill Powers, they cover legends like Dylan and Waylon, blending swinging country, Louisiana rhythms, rock, folk, and country funk. 6-8pm. Free.
Bledsoe Family Winery Wine & Music at Bledsoe Family Winery Join Bledsoe Family Winery in the Box Factory for delicious wine and live music from the lovely Olivia Harms! 4pm. Free. The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Wednesday Jam Sessions Drink some fine cask or imported beers and try some amazing British pies while listening to local musicians jam out. 6:30-8:30pm. 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 Long Gone Wilder Trio Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music every Wednesday. 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.
General Duffy’s Waterhole Wednesday Night Open Mic Join Central Oregon School of Modern Music and General Duffy’s for the Wednesday night Open Mic! Play 3 songs. Groups of up to 3. Sign-up begins at 5:30. Food trucks, 25+ taps, drink specials! 6-9pm. Free.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Hozier - Unreal Unearth Tour 2024 World-renowned singer/songwriter Hozier will bring his folk-driven jams to Central oregon. His music utilizes literary themes, narratives and soulful stances mixed with blues. 6:30pm. $79.50.
JC’s Bar & Grill TRIVIA + Wing Wednesday! $.75 cent wing special all day and trivia kicking off at 7:30pm. Don’t forget the infamous “physical” challenge as one of the categories (think musical chairs, limbo, paper airplane throwing etc)! Get a free appetizer by winning that round and happy hour pricing all week for the winning team. 7:30-9:30pm. 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.
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.
Oblivion Pour House Last Call Trivia Wednesday Last Call Trivia Wednesdays, bring your smartest friends and win free food and drink. 6:30-8:30pm.
Prost! Bend Trivia Prost! UKB Trivia is now at Prost! Bend on Wednesdays at 7pm! Genuine UKB Trivia is no average trivia night! Meet up with friends, win gift card prizes for top teams! Enjoy Prost’s authentic beer and food menu. Trivia is free to play, with no buy-ins! 7-9pm. Free.
LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Sam Johnson Park Music on the Green - Hokule’a Ohana Central Oregon Redmond’s annual free summer music series at Sam Johnson Park. Grab a blanket, bring your lawn chairs and introduce your family to an evening that really highlights why so many people enjoy visiting and living in Redmond. More than just music, you’ll enjoy tasty local food, drinks, desserts as well as craft vendors. This fun family block party atmosphere has plenty of things to do with the kids and is one of the longest-running community festivals in Central Oregon. Concerts are on alternating wednesday evenings starting at 5:30pm. If you have questions connect with Amanda Joe 541-923-5191 or events@visitredmondoregon.com 5:30pm. Free.
The Vault Taphouse at Kobold Brewing Trivia Night Trivia Night at The Vault! Come test your knowledge and drink top notch local beer! 6:30-8pm. Free.
5 Thursday
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.
Bend Elks Lodge #1371 Bingo Bingo at the Elk’s Lodge. Win cash prizes. 6-9pm. $23.
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.
Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market
Paul Eddy Bedell Artist and local troubadour sings golden hits through the decades, plus originals. 5:30-7:30pm. Free.
Dump City Dumplings Local Live music night Local live music showcase at Dump City every Thursday. $1 off beverages and dumplings. 5:30pm. 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.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater Jason Aldean: Highway Desperado Tour 2024 Country music singer Jason Aldean brings his boot-stomping tunes to Bend. 6:30pm. $99.75.
Open Space Event Studios In The Round | A Singer Songwriter Series Music in the Round is a concert format where solo musicians take the stage together, taking turns playing original songs. Audiences hear the artists discuss their songwriting process, including the stories and emotions that shaped the song’s creation. 7pm. $15.
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.
River’s Place Tony Smiley The Loop Ninja loops his way through a unique genre of music that you won’t find anywhere else all with a witty, engaging, and energetic stage presence. His cosmic dance of electric melodies range from rock, hip hop, reggae, tribal fusion, ‘80s and everything in between. 6-8pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing OPLIAM and guests Multi-genre musician OPLIAM, who was born and raised in Minneapolis but now resides in Chicago, is a master at pushing musical boundaries. His unique fusion of “Alter-Native Rock” and “Native Americana” has attracted a passionate international fan base. Captivating crowds across Turtle Island, Australia, Hawaii, and New Zealand over the last decade. 7-10pm. $12.
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.
The Capitol Latin Vibes at The Capitol Each month will come with a unique offering, from host DJ SOLO and guests bridging the gap between Latin genres in a single night, to live salsa music by our very own BENDiciones Salsa Orchestra. A quick dance lesson will be offered at the beginning of the night. 7:30-11:59pm. Free.
The Lot Live Music with Faisal at The Lot Live music with Faisal Abu-Nawwas. Country, reggae, rock, soft stuff, and ‘80s and ‘90s covers promising a little bit of everything to please the masses! 6-8pm. Free.
6 Friday
Bend Cider Co. Kolby Knickerbocker Come on out to Tumalo and listen to the award-winning music of Americana, singersongwriter, Kolby Knickerbocker. Enjoy this early fall evening of chill music with friends and family, while sipping on delicious ciders, beers, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid and dog-friendly. . 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.
Bridge 99 Brewery Karaoke Friday’s at Bridge 99 All your favorite songs with hostess, Miss Mindy! 7-9pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Bend Burlesque presents: This is How We BEND It’s our final First Friday show of the summer and we’re making this one PERSONAL. Join us once again at Bunk + Brew for a show celebrating (and lovingly poking fun at) all things BEND. Local or tourist, lover or cynic, there’s something for everyone in this sexy, satirical show! 7-10pm. $25-$140.
Cheba Hut Sun Sets Comedy Open Mic Sun Sets is a free comedy open mic every Friday. Sign-up 7:30. Starts 8pm. Enjoy the nice summer weather and the fresh heat from these local legends. It’s a toasty good time. Hosted by Katy Ipock. 7:30-10pm. Free.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom First Friday Block Party First Friday Downtown Bend! Celebrate local arts and culture by hosting free live music featuring local bands for First Friday Art Walk block party style. Sponsored by Immersions Brewing. Line-up on our website event calendar thecommonsbend.com First Friday of every month, 6-9pm. Free.
Downtown Bella Brides Barhop A fun evening of bar and shop hopping! Come dressed in your wedding dress or wear white, a wedding suit, or anything else that makes you feel great! A portion of all ticket sales will help CASA of Central Oregon continue providing vital advocates for children in foster care. 5-8pm. $39.
General Duffy’s Waterhole Ernest Chart-topping songwriter ERNEST with eight #1 hits live at General Duffy’s September 6th, 2024 at the Subaru of Bend 2024 Summer Kickin’ Concert Series presented by Central Oregon Daily News in Downtown Redmond, Oregon. Tickets on-sale now! 5-11pm. $40-$120.
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.
Courtesy Eli Young Band Facebook
Now open daily 11:30am - 8:30pm
It’s here – the great reimagination of the Lake House at Caldera Springs. Discover a dedicated space to gather and create lasting memories against the backdrop of breathtaking natural surroundings. Now open to the public, guests are invited to lounge with the whole family in the dining room, warm up by the fireplace in the bar or roast s’mores under the starlit sky on the outdoor patio. Here, every meal and moment become a story.
Melvin Seals, Steve Kimock, Jason Crosby, Johnny Kimock, Tom Guarna & Lamar Williams Jr.
Featuring:
BIGSTOCK 2024
We're back at Hoodoo Ski Area for the 12th annual Bigstock Fundraiser in beautiful Sisters, Oregon!
Join us on September 6th & 7th for two days of music in the mountains, supporting Oregon Adaptive Sports and Cascadia Wildlands.
Enjoy headling performances by Greensky Bluegrass, Margo Price, and Oteil & Friends, with supporting acts, Gbots and the Journeymen, Banshee Tree and Bon Bon Vivant.
Bigstock Fundraisers’ soul mission is to raise funds through philanthropical events, supporting local charitable and benevolent causes.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
Parking lot Gates open: @ 9 am (no early entry allowed)
Event doors: @ 2:00 pm
Show starts @ 4:00 pm
Oteil & Friends, with supporting acts, ore
Friday will kick off this incredible weekend of Music with Bends own, Gbots and Journeymen, making their second appearance at Bigstock! Then get ready to groove with Colorado based Banshee Tree, a high energy quartet blending early jazz with modern indie, trance and psychedelic rock. The incredibly talented, Greensky Bluegrass, will headline the show, bringing their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock and roll! After the show, be sure to join us in the lodge for our mystery guest, promising a dance party like no other! (*After party included in the ticket price).
The fun rolls on into Saturday night with a mashup of musicians! Taking the stage to kick off the night is Bon Bon Vivant. Hailing from New Orleans, BBV brings their unique blend of indie rock, New Orleans street music and high energy dance tunes! Our headliners will follow, with the sweet stylings of Margo Price, a force in American music and a generational talent. An all star jam of Oteil and Friends, featuring Jason Crosby, John Kimock, Tom Guarna, Melvin Seals, Steve Kimock and Lamar William Jr, will promise a once in a lifetime set to see! Don’t want the night to end? Bon Bon Vivant will continue the fun at the afterparty in the lodge!
EAT & DRINK
FOOD CARTS
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 So Much House: Fluffy Stuff & Luxo SoMuchHouse: Bend debut DJ set by Fluffy Stuff with support by Luxo. B2B set by Its Fine & MStarkDJ. Dance, community, house music. Join for this special night! First Friday of every month, 8pm-2am. $15.
The Capitol Freak and Geeks 2 Come shake your booty off at The Capitol hosted by Groove Gala Events. Doors open at 9pm, and we’re bringing you an electrified night of the top dance club hits. DJ Lineup: @ATOMBRAM and @ BRIAN_TOLOGY 9pm-2am. $5.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Black Tusk Volcanic Theatre Pub presents: Black Tusk w/ Somnuri and Horseburner. Doors at 8pm - show starts at 9pm. Presale - $20, day of - $30. 8pm. $20-$30. Worthy Brewing Magic Beans live at Worthy Brewing Magic Beans have a passion for music that is as infectious as their songs, both of which have gained them national notoriety in a short time. Enjoy $5 pints and live music from them at Worthy Brewing! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
7 Saturday
Austin Mercantile Saturday Afternoon Live Music Austin Mercantile is now adding live music on Saturdays! Serving wine, beer, lite happy hour menu, gifts and home decor. Hope to see you soon! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.
The Barn in Sisters Blackflowers Blacksun Jumped up and electro-fied slide guitar and blues music. 6-8pm. Free.
Barrel Room @ Immersion
Brewing The Chromeo After Party Keep the Chromeo concert vibes alive at The Chromeo after party in the Barrel Room at Immersion Brewing! Enjoy a night of Nu Disco and Electro Funk from 9pm-2am with DJs @atombram, @brian_tology & @djdiscodino. Tickets: $15 presale, $20 at the door. 21+ only. 9pm-2am. $15.
Canteen DJ Wicked at the Canteen bar at Campfire hotel Portland’s own DJ Wicked spins dance party classics, all on vinyl 7pm-10pm. 21 & up. 7-10pm. Free.
Craft Kitchen and Brewery The Exchange Program: Salem Comedy The Exchange Program comedy show features host Liam Gibler’s favorite comedians from across Oregon. For September it’s Salem edition; with opener Travis Bond and co-headliners Billy Chambers and Tony Meyer. Doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm. 8-9:30pm. $15.
Crux Fermentation Project Reb ConnerLive Music at Crux! Reb Conner of Portland’s “Reb & The Good News” live at Crux. 6-8pm. Free. Hayden Homes Amphitheater Chromeo and The Midnight - Chrome Nights North American Tour Electro-funk duo Chromeo brings the party to Bend. 6pm. $49.50.
Hoodoo Ski Area Bigstock Fundraiser Presents: Margo Price and Oteil and Friends Bigstock Fundraiser is proud to have Margo Price and Oteil and Friends perform for this year’s Fundraiser for OAS - Oregon Adaptive Sports at Hoodoo Ski Area. 3-10pm. $125.
On Tap Sweet Motor at On Tap Live music on the lawn with Sweet Motor. On Tap offers 35 tap handles, including a wide variety of craft beer, cider, wine and kombucha. Our 6 food trucks satisfy every palette. 6-8pm. Free.
River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Lil big band, swing jazz at River’s Place. 6-8pm. Free.
Schilling’s Garden Market End of Summer Garden Party Join us for a fun filled weekend as we celebrate and thank our customers for another great season here at Schilling’s Garden Market! We will have live music on Saturday, food carts, garden inspired cocktails and art vendors both Saturday and Sunday. Plus the largest plant sale of the season! 9am-7pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Ludlow and guests Originally formed as a duo to commemorate the infamous massacre of striking miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado. The band in its current evolution combines elements of alternative, punk, indie and folk to deliver existential lyrical themes about society alongside heavy hitting breakdowns. 7-10pm. $10.
Velvet One Mad Man Music Spencer Snyder, One Mad Man, loops together multiple instruments to create moody, driven backdrops accompanied by smooth vocals. Hip-hop-style drums drive funk-inspired bass followed by electrifying sounds from his keyboard and guitar. First Saturday of every month, 8-11pm. Free.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Horse Feathers Horse Feathers, and their re-imagined string ensemble of seasoned players are returning to the road in the spring of 2022 in support of their April, Kill Rock Stars re-issue of their 2008 breakthrough release “House With No Home.” 8 & 9pm. $18 in advance $28 at the door.
Wildwood Bar & Grill LIVE SALSA MUSIC @ WILDWOOD Wildwood is bringing you a night of live salsa music by ‘BENDinciones’ Salsa Orchestra and guest Dj Solo. Get ready to have a fun night full of dancing or simply sit back and enjoy live music while sipping on a cocktail. Kicking the night off with a complimentary salsa lesson. 7:30-11:59pm. Free.
8 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.
Campfire Hotel Pool Club with DJ Wicked at Campfire hotel. A daytime pool party at the Campfire Hotel! Featuring an all vinyl DJ set by Portland’s own DJ Wicked! All Ages 3pm-5pm, 21 & up from 5pm-7pm. Hotel Guests: No Cover Charge. Non hotel guests: $20 3pm. $20.
Century Center Eli Young Band w/ Eli Howard & The Greater Good Since the band’s formation as college classmates 20 years ago, the Associated Press has celebrated EYB as “a smart, relevant antidote” to overdone clichés in Country music. The musical band of brothers – Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson – play their own instruments, write their own songs and cling fast to their Texas roots. 5pm. $50-$60.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Trivia Night Sunday Funday Trivia with Sean. Gather your team, or roll solo and find a spot early in the cafe, knowledge tests begin at 6pm. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.
Hanai Pink Floyd & the Void: Live Pink Floyd Music & Sound Bath Pink Floyd’s music is timeless and transportive. Combined with embodiment, breath work, and awareness exercises, we weave the words of Pink Floyd with the musicality of Pete Kartsounes. After movement, we lay down to receive the soothing sound bath benefits. 6-8pm. $30.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov With a voice that recalls a huskier, sandpapery version of Van Morrison and Tim Buckley, Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne joins such artists as Iron & Wine in creating folk songs that are alternately lush and intimately earthy. Joining Ray LaMontagne is indie-rock artist Gregory Alan Isakov. 6pm. $39.50-$149.50.
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 Bill Keale Hawaiian music, slack key guitar, pop and folk at River’s Place. 6-8pm. Free. Schilling’s Garden Market End of Summer Garden Party Join us for a fun filled weekend as we celebrate and thank our customers for another great season here at Schilling’s Garden Market! We will have live music on Saturday, food carts, garden inspired cocktails and art vendors both Saturday and Sunday. Plus the largest plant sale of the season! 10-3am. Free.
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.
The Pavilion Pavilion-Palooza The Bend Park & Recreation Foundation invites community members of all ages to Pavilion-Palooza, a live music and roller-skating event at The Pavilion. 2-5pm. $5 (free for children under age 5).
Tower Theatre Nate Jackson’s Super Funny World Tour Nate is currently recurring on the upcoming NBC series “The Young Rock.” He has appeared on “Nick Cannon Presents Wild’N Out” (MTV), “All Def Comedy” (HBO), “Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City” (Comedy Central), “Off The Chain” (Bounce TV), “Comic View” (BET), and “Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks” (TruTV). This event is 16+. 7:30pm. $46-$230.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Eli Young Band The musical band of brothers – Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson, play their own instruments, write their own songs and cling fast to their Texas roots. While selling out venues from coast-to-coast as strong headliners, EYB has also shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Chris Young, Darius Rucker and Dave Matthews Band. 6pm. $50.
9 Monday
Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99 Trivia Mondays 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. Inhouse menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm. Free. The Yard at Bunk + Brew Open Mic Monday Sign-up at 5:30pm. 3 song maximum/or 15-minute spots. Singles/duos/trios (no bands) (Cajun OK). Food and beverage carts on-site. Originals or covers. Minors welcome. 6-8pm. Free.
Crux Fermentation Project Trivia Night @ Crux Trivia Night at Crux! First place team wins a $25 gift card! 6-8pm. Free.
Elements Public House Open Mic with DMM Music Come jam with some great local musicians and enjoy an evening of music, great food and full bar. Musician sign-up at 6pm. Sound and PA provided by DMM Music LLC Located at the North end of Redmond. An award-winning full bar and great food! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 AT 7PM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 AT 8PM
SEPTEMBER 6 AT 7PM
Portland-based indie-folk band Horse Feathers is comprised of band members Justin Ringle, Nathan Crockett, J. Tom Hnatow and Robby Cosenza. Sat., Sep. 7, 9pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.
Courtesy Horse Feathers Facebook
CALENDAR EVENTS
Elixir Wine Locals Music Night and Open Mic Bend’s friendliest open-mic! All genres welcome. Oregon and international wine, beer and tapas menu available all evening. 6-9pm. 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 Join the #1 Open Mic at Silver Moon Brewing every Monday! Sign-ups at 6:30pm sharp. Perform or watch—maybe even witness a Roast Battle! Plus, opportunities for paid gigs. 6:30-9pm. Free.
The Barrel Room at Immersion Brewing Public Rock Choir Come sing your face off in a fun, no-stress group where all skill levels can get loud with a live band and group singing. Rock and pop songs only. If you love to sing, but don’t want to sing alone, we are your people! No experience or skill required. 6-8am. $20.
The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room Bottles and Boards - Game Night Grab your favorite board game or borrow one! Every Monday is Game Night! Pair a bottle of wine with a selection of charcuterie boards and get $5 off Whites or $10 off Reds. Fun times and great wines! Cheers! 2-9pm. Free.
Tower Theatre Moms Unhinged Standup Comedy Show Join Go Big Productions for a night of laughter as we explore everything from motherhood, midlife crisis, marriage, divorce, online dating, and other things that irritate us. Men are welcome to the show, too. Mom’s Unhinged has been selling out shows all over the country and is coming to Bend, Oregon for a special performance. We do clean (ish) comedy and this is a fun night out with your girlfriends, drinking club (I mean book club), neighborhood group, or your own mom. 7pm. $25-$35.
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.
10 Tuesday
Bangers & Brews Redmond UKB Trivia Tuesdays UKB Trivia Tuesdays 6:30pm start time at Bangers and Brews in Redmond! Join this week for this unique “Live Trivia Game Show.” Meet up to compete for prizes! UKB Trivia is free to play, with no buy-ins. Great menu and beers! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Boys & Girls Free of Bend Bend Ecstatic Dance An all-out, full-on, spectacular music and free-form movement journey happens every Tuesday on one of the biggest dance floors in Bend. A no-booze and no-shoes venue. No experience required, no dance instructions given. Just really excellent music curation and a big, clean floor to explore your unique movement across. 7:45-10pm. $15-$25 sliding scale.
The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Open MICC Presented by Bend Underground Comedy Club Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month you can enjoy or participate in THE MICC, a Comedy Open Mic presented by Bend Underground Comedy Club at The Cellar in Downtown Bend. Come and see local comics trying out their sharpest 3-5 minute sets. It’s free to attend and perform! Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm. Free (donations welcome).
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Storytellers 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.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Jenny Don’t and The Spurs Jenny Don’t and the Spurs have been pioneering their own path in the music world for over a dozen years. Known for their high-energy Country Western style and captivating stage presence, they’ve garnered a global following with their infectious enthusiasm, and extensive discography, featuring three albums, an EP, and nine singles. 8pm. $15.
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.
MUSIC
Music Healing Hour - An Acoustic and Peaceful Experience Experience an hour of cello, classical guitar, piano and flute as solo instruments and in combination. You can just absorb the music or bring something creative to work on: a journal, piece of art or handcraft. Yoga mats are welcome, too. Sept. 10, 7-8pm. Grace First Lutheran Church, 2265 NW Shevlin Park Rd., Bend. Contact: 541=382-6862. juliehanneypiano@gmail.com. Free.
Sensational Songs from the Past
Listen to your favorite sing-alongs from the ‘60s onwards. Tunes that stand the test of time - all your favorites! Sept. 5, 1-2pm. Brooks Room / Downtown Bend Library. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.
Vinyl Nights Come join DJ Rollin’ Dust every Monday night from 5-8pm at Immersion Brewing. Meet us in the Barrel Room for mellow jams, chill vibes, and cold brews. Mondays, 5-8pm. Through Sept. 9. The Barrel Room at Immersion Brewing, 550 SW Industrial Way ste #185, Bend. Contact: 541-633-7821. marketing@imbrewing. com. Free.
DANCE
Bachata Dance Classes Hope you’re ready to have some fun learning cool bachata moves! This four week series is ideal for anyone with existing basic bachata dance skills (basic steps and turns) looking to improve lead and follow connection through a series of dance patterns. Please pre-register to save your spot! Mondays, 8:15-9:15pm. Through Sept. 30. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541-325-6676. LatinDanceBend@gmail.com. $48.
Learn to Square Dance The High Desert Dancers are offering lessons to beginning square dancers. The lessons are every Monday and Thursday from 6:30-8:30pm. Lessons are $80 for all 20 lessons. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:309:30pm. Through Nov. 14. Pine Forest Grange Hall, 63214 Boyd Acres Rd., Bend. Contact: 541382-7014. rswee3@gmail.com. $80.
FILM EVENTS
Know Nostalgia - “The Last Blockbuster” Documentary Screen the documentary about the world’s last Blockbuster. This nostalgic documentary reveals the real story of Blockbuster’s demise, and how one last location in Bend keeps the spirit of a bygone era alive. Followed by a Q&A with writer/producer, Zeke Kamm. Sept. 5, 5:30-7:30pm. Brooks Room / Downtown Bend Library, (no address), (no city). Contact: 541312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.
Mobster Monday: American Gangster Dust off your jewelry and hang at the Tin Pan every Monday night in September for mobster Monday! Bar opens 30 minutes before showtime! Sept. 9, 6:30pm. Tin Pan Theater, 869 NW Tin Pan Alley, Bend. $15.
ARTS + CRAFTS
Clothespin Doll Crafting Homesteaders in Central Oregon made do with what they had. Try your hand at resourceful creativity in crafting your own clothespin doll using methods and upcycled materials like they would have in 1904. Sept. 7, 10am-3pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: https:// highdesertmuseum.org/events/clothespin-doll-crafting/. info@highdesertmuseum.org. Free with paid museum admission.
Intro to MIG Welding (ages 13+) 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! Sept. 9, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-3882283. classes@diycave.com. $139.
PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS
Natural History Pub – Burned Habitat: How the Canada Lynx is Responding to Big Wildfires The Canada lynx is a skilled predator that lives in the West’s high-elevation forests. In the 21st century, hotter and larger wildfires are altering the lynx’s habitat. Listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the cat’s future remains uncertain. Sept. 9, 7-8pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4754. info@highdesertmuseum.org. Free with RSVP.
WORDS
Author Event: The Sunriver Murders by Ted Haynes Ted Haynes, popular local author of the Northwest Murder Mystery Series, returns with his fifth book: The Sunriver Murders! Join him to talk about his new book, writing in the mystery genre, and setting stories in his own backyard. Sept. 5, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. $5.
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Hozier brings his captivating and energetic live performances to Bend during his “Unreal Unearth Tour.” Wed., Sep. 4, 6:30pm at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Courtesy Hozier Facebook
By Savannah Mendoza
GUNG HO Three Years of Music and Community with SoMuchHouse DJ
Casey Capps talks about the growing EDM music community in Bend, and the inspiration behind it all
As Bend’s electronic dance music scene continues to grow, one event series stands out for its dedication to creating a supportive and welcoming community: SoMuchHouse, founded three years ago by local DJ Casey Capps, featuring house and techno DJs at events in Central Oregon. In this Q&A, Capps shares the inspiration behind the project, the influence of renowned DJs like Mikey Lion and a look ahead the threeyear anniversary party held at Volcanic Theatre Pub on Fri., Sep. 13 from 9pm-2am. Answers have been edited for concision and clarity.
can connect. We’ve created something unique in Bend that you typically only find in big cities like LA or Chicago.
SW: How has the electronic dance music scene evolved in Central Oregon since SoMuchHouse began?
Source Weekly: What inspired you to start SoMuchHouse, and how has the vision evolved over the past three years?
Casey Capps: Playing my own shows in Bend every weekend was fun, but eventually, I wanted something more. After COVID, I saw an opportunity to launch an event series focused on the music I love – house and techno. I knew there was a space for this in Bend, so I launched SoMuchHouse and haven’t looked back since.
SW: How has Mikey Lion, the founder of Desert Hearts, had an influence on SoMuchHouse?
CC: I’ve always been inspired by Desert Hearts and Dirty Bird, two record labels that produce the kind of music that I love. They host events and festivals across the country, and after attending some, I knew I wanted to create something similar in Bend. My goal was to book Mikey Lion one day, and although it took three years, it happened naturally for our three-year anniversary show.
SW: What does SoMuchHouse represent to you and the community?
CC: House music fosters a very tight knit and supportive community, and I wanted to create a space for people to come together and essentially create some escapism for people. These events are not just for me; they are for the community in Central Oregon, and that’s really what it’s all about. It’s special to see familiar faces and newcomers at each event, and I feel blessed by the culture we’ve built — a safe, open space where people
CC: Post-COVID, a surge of DJs have emerged – all of these smaller nights and parties started featuring local DJs in Central Oregon, and that’s great because it’s a sign of a growing scene. This growth has inspired me to keep pushing SoMuchHouse forward. As the scene grows, Bend is becoming a desired destination for bigger artists, and I’ve already seen that start to happen. SoMuchHouse is excited to be a part of that evolution with Mikey Lion for our three-year anniversary show. It’s been an awesome process to continue elevating SoMuchHouse.
SW: What can people expect at the anniversary event?
CC: For the music lineup, Mikey Lion brings unreleased tracks of House and Techno music and a positive, warm stage presence. Joe Pea, a close friend of mine, has the best tracks that always move the dance floor. Riles adds a familiar sound that people recognize and MStarkDJ’s set is full of surprises; he has a fun and eclectic sound. Our three-year anniversary show is definitely going to be one for the books.
SW: What’s it going to look like for SoMuchHouse to collaborate with the Cascade Equinox Festival this year?
CC: I am over the moon. I feel blessed and honored to represent Central Oregon’s dance community at the festival, with part of our proceeds going to Mt. Tabor Dance Community in Portland, who helped make this possible. I’m jazzed to be part of this, and I hope to continue being a part of this festival in the future. I’m performing two sets: a solo one and another with MStarkDJ as part of SoMuchHouse.
To Tell the Truth - An Evening of Story-Telling A diverse group of performers will come together at Unity for an evening of true life stories ranging from the hilarious to the heartbreaking. Rounding out the program will be a special musical guest, Deena Kamm. Headlining the show will be Cody Michael, award winning regional comic. Sept. 6, 7:30pm. Unity Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-350-8448. clare@UnityCentralOregon.org. $15 online or $20 at the door.
Writers Reading - “The Residents” British born resident, Matthew Friday will read poems from his book “The Residents”, published by Finishing Lines Press. He will also include some stories and anecdotes about being a resident of the US and Oregon. There will be opportunity for Q&A and purchase of signed copies of the book. Sept. 8, 11am-Noon. East Bend Public Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend. Contact: 541-3121063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.
Writers Writing - How Poets Jump for Joy The world gives us many downers. In this workshop, we will counter that energy, deliberately tuning into poems of joy. We will review a variety of poems, many written by well-known poets. Participants will be invited to write a new poem celebrating their own experience of joy. Sept. 7, 1-3pm. Brooks Room / Downtown Bend Library. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls. lib.or.us. Free.
OUTDOOR EVENTS
Accessible Tours with AdvenChair: Benham Falls Wanderlust Tours is ecstatic to partner with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors! This serene trail will take us through a forest of Ponderosa Pine among spectacular lava flows where vistas of the Cascade Range, stand tall in the distance. Full details at our website! Sept. 8, 8:30am-12:30pm. Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-389-8359. info@ wanderlusttours.com. $300 per group of 4. Cultural Landscape Training Path: Increase Respect for the Land The Cultural Landscape Training Path is a free and public tool created for those who wish to encourage larger involvement of Indigenous partners in projects on Ancestral lands. This resource helps hikers understand the steps being taken by professionals to open their hearts and minds to Indigenous ways of being, Sept. 4, 5-6:30pm. Contact: 541-638-0671. renee@longdistancetrailconsulting.com. Free.
Oregon Outback & Cowboy Dinner Tree: Hike & Dinner Join Wanderlust Tours for a day in the Oregon Outback. On the adventure, we will hike around the stunning Fort Rock and visit the Homestead Village Museum before heading to the infamous Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake, Oregon for a mouth-watering meal. We will conclude our day with some stargazing! Sept. 7, 3-11:30pm. Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-389-8359. info@wanderlusttours.com. $245.
VOLUNTEER
Audible Bats Citizen Science Survey
Join the NW Bat Hub for a bat adventure. Learn about bats, complete a bat survey with OSU biologists, campout with like-minded nature nerds. Training at Barnhouse Campground, surveys at John Day NP. Transportation provided for those who need it. Family friendly, no previous experience required. More details on website. Sept. 7, 6pm-Midnight. Barnhouse Campground, 44.474329, -119.93430, Prineville. Contact: 541699-6232. sara.rose@osucascades.edu. Free.
Volunteer Harvest Day @ Tumalo Lavender Grab your gloves and clippers and come out to Tumalo Lavender for our 3rd annual volunteer harvest day! We will have refreshing lavender-ade, lavender baked goods and other treats for all of the volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about lavender! Sept. 7, 9am-4pm. Tumalo Lavender, 19825 Connarn Road, Bend. Contact: 541-383-2441. info@tumalolavender.com. Free.
GROUPS + MEETUPS
Commerce & Coffee @ Waypoint Hotel—September 10 Come extend your professional network at Waypoint Hotel while enjoying coffee from Thump and morning bites from Bend Breakfast Burrito. The best part? It is free to attend for members! Non-member pricing is $10.00 per person. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Kernutt Stokes and our featured non-profit, Bend LaPine Sept. 10, 8-9:30am. Waypoint Hotel Bend, 1415 NE 3rd St, Bend. Free to Chamber Members | $10.00 for Non-Members.
Experience OLLI-UO In Central Oregon Come visit with Central Oregon’s OLLI-UO to see how you can keep your mind active in retirement. Sept. 5, 1-2:30pm. Larkspur Community Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: osher@uoregon.edu. Free.
Single Mingle & Speed Dating
Geared towards singles looking to make new connections, this event offers a blend of casual mingling and structured speed dating rounds. Exclusively for those 21 and over, your participation not only promises a fantastic time but also contributes to a charitable cause—proceeds go to the Charity of the Quarter. Fri, Sept. 6, 6-8pm, Fri, Oct. 4, 6-8pm, Fri, Nov. 1, 6-8pm and Fri, Dec. 6, 6-8pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: 541-241-6145. events@oregonsingleites.com. $5.
FUNDRAISING
Home Sweet Bingo Come play bingo with us at the Blacksmith Public House! All proceeds go back into the community through Thrive’s Housing Fund, which provides rental and deposit assistance! Sept. 8, 11am-1pm. Blacksmith Public House, 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Free. Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo Silver Moon partners 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! Bingo cards are $25 per person. Family friendly fundraising! Free general admission, $10 early entry. Sundays, 10amNoon. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-639-1730. hello@ younimovement.com. $10-$200.
EVENTS + MARKETS
Northwest Crossing Farmers Market Discover a bounty of seasonal produce, locally-raised meats, fresh eggs and cheese, handmade items, beautiful flowers, tasty morsels, and so much more! Support our local farmers and artisans. Open every Saturday during summer season from 10am to 2pm. Northwest Crossing Drive. Saturdays, 10am-2pm. Through Sept. 28. NorthWest Crossing, NorthWest Crossing, Bend. Free.
Second Sunday Vintage Market Third annual Second Sunday Market located at Gathered Wares in the Old Iron Works District. Bend’s premiere vintage clothing and home goods market. Shop from various local vintage vendors and makers while you dance to live DJ every second Sunday of the month Apr. to Oct. 11-3pm. Family friendly. Second Sunday of every month, 11am-3pm. Through Oct. 13. Gathered Wares, 50 SE Scott St., Bend. Free.
Sisters Farmers Market Visit Sisters Farmers Market to experience the bounty of Central Oregon! Browse fresh produce, locally raised meats, seafood, artisanal food products, and find the perfect handcrafted gift from local makers. Enjoy live music and be sure to visit our website to see each Sunday’s community activity schedule! Sundays, 10am-2pm. Through Oct. 27. Fir Street Park, Sisters, Sisters. Contact: 541-904-0134. sistersfarmersmarket@gmail. com. Free.
FAMILY + KIDS
Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club 27th Annual Open House Ride our outdoor railroad and see our highly detailed indoor HO railroad. There will be food vendors on site for a fun-filled family day. The event is open to all ages and it is free to enter and ride the trains. Sept. 7, 10am-4pm and Sept. 8, 10am4pm. Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club, 21520 Modoc Ln., Bend. Contact: wecaron@ gmail.com. Free.
Free Youth Shoot Day Adult accompanied youth 17 and under shoot free. Archery, Rifle/ Pistol, Rim Fire, Sporting Clays 5 Stand and Cowboy Action. All disciplines will offer assistance, instructions, and/or demonstrations. Practice for hunting season. Enjoy picnic areas. Arrive before noon, double opportunity to win adult and youth prize packages. Sept. 8, 10am-4pm. Redmond Rod and Gun Club, 9020 S Hwy 97, Redmond. Contact: 541-923-3136. www.rrandgc.com. Free.
Street Dog Hero’s 5th Annual Heroes on the Run 5K Join Street Dog Hero for our 5th Annual Heroes in the Run 5K Fun Run happening at The Athletic Club of Bend on Sunday, September 8th! This family-friendly and dog-friendly event has something for the entire family to enjoy. Sept. 8, 10am-2pm. Athletic Club of Bend, 61615 Athletic Club Dr, Bend. Contact: paige@streetdoghero.org. $50.
BEER + DRINK
2024 Paw Crawl Enjoy a special logo cup, gift card to Local Paws, beverage token, and BrightSide hat. Start at Local Paws with a ‘Dog Brew’ for your furry friend, then visit participating venues for raffles, special menus, and to fill your pint! Sept. 7, 5-8pm. BrightSide Animal Center, 1355 NW Hemlock Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-923-0882. swellman@brightsideanimals. org. $30.
Freemark Abbey Wine Dinner Join us for an exclusive Wine Tasting Dinner featuring Freemark Abbey Winery, renowned for its Napa Valley heritage and exceptional wines since 1886. Don’t miss out on this unique culinary and wine adventure! Sept. 5, 6-8pm. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. Contact: 866320-5024. info@juniperpreserve.com. $150.
Wine Workshop Series: Wine 101 Flights Wine Bar presents our Wine 101 Workshop. If you’re new to wine, vino-curious or intimidated when someone uses the word ’tannin’ or ‘mouthfeel’- this is the workshop for you! Together, we’ll taste 5 wines while learning what the heck is wine? Sept. 6, 6-7pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@gmail. com. $45.
HEALTH + WELLNESS
1-Year Anniversary Celebration Come celebrate StarCycle Bend’s 1 Year Anniversary! Don’t miss out on free classes, free childcare, amazing raffle prizes, awesome vendors, and lots of fun, sweaty workouts! It’s going to be a weekend to remember, so make sure you’re there to celebrate with us. Fri, Sept. 6, 6am-1pm, Sat, Sept. 7, 8-11am and Sun, Sept. 8, 8-11am. StarCycle Bend, 2838 NW Crossing Drive, Suite 100, Bend. Contact: 541-797-6802. bend@ starcycleride.com. Free Classes and Childcare.
Breathwork with Double Gong Sound Healing Come join world renown Breathwork Teacher, Jon Paul Crimi, in a very special Breathwork event! It will transform your life! Sept. 5, 7-8:15pm. Riverhouse Convention Center, 2850 NW Rippling River Ct., Bend. Contact: 310-6256751. breathewithjp@gmail.com. $45.
Cacao & Yoga Experience the magic of cacao and the power of yoga movement! This offering begins with drinking cacao to open the heart, then we will move the body to explore the deeper layers of our being and end with group reflection. This event is donation-based - open and welcoming to all! Sept. 6, 6-8pm. Hanai Center, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: 425-283-9348. embodiedbeingretreats@gmail.com. Donation-Based.
Keep Your Head Up Bend!
Bunk+Brew and High Desert Music Collective present Keep Your Head Up, a fundraising show for Suicide Prevention and Awareness. Live music by Spencer Marlyn Band, The Rumpeppers, Paeonia, Robot Mushroom, Matti Joy, Brave New World, So Much Closer, Hers & Mine, and Mason Coats. Sept. 7, 2-10pm. Bunk+Brew, 42 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Contact: 213-712-5367. keepyourheadupbend@gmail.com. $10.
Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne crafts folk songs that are both lush and earthy, with his husky voice and moving tunes on some of his top indie-folk and rock hits including “You Are the Best Thing” and “Such a Simple Thing.” Sun., Sept. 8, 6pm at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Courtesy Ray LaMontagne Facebook
CHOW
After School Snacks, and other Kid Bites
A return to fall rhythms doesn’t have to mean PB&J all day. Here’s where to get some local eats the kids will like too.
By
Nicole Vulcan
These days, my only child toggles between getting maximum value from the college-campus dining hall and being a low-budget Gen Z foodie (whose matcha-latte game is strong). But it wasn’t that long ago that the cries of “what’s for dinner?” were erupting from the back of the car as soon as the school day was done.
It’s still nice out, and in early September, not all parents have their heads fully wrapped around the rhythms and routines that the new school brings. In other words: If you’re like I was and have yet to do the full-on Costco-sized shop for school lunches and afterschool snacks, then you may be in the market for a few new ideas to keep the kids happy, and you likewise satisfied, after the school day is done. (Disclosure: this single parent has never shopped for kid provisions at Costco.)
Here are some of my hacks for local and low-cost eats both kids and parents will enjoy.
When they ace that test
Soon enough, there will be classroom victories minor and major you will want to celebrate, and for a great majority of tweens, there’s nothing that spells “victory lap” more than boba tea — or in the case of TeaCupfuls, a full slate of specialty drinks that burst with decadence. The Mermaid, featuring vanilla butterfly tea with cream, rose drizzle, jellies, Nerds and no caffeine, is a sumptuous treat for the kiddos.
Admittedly, this is a carrot I have been known to dangle for my nieces and not my own kid. Somehow, as the parent of a child whose teeth I was responsible for keeping cavity-free, the fact that an entire thing of COTTON CANDY undulates off the top of this drink barred me from allowing it. But as an aunt, well, meh — let them have it.
Adult food, kid style
Parents and caregivers know this song: Your kid has a palate that is about as wide as a North Unit irrigation ditch in August, and the boredom is crushing. Here’s my tip for getting your child to branch out a bit: Invite one of their friends (hopefully an adventurous one) to join you for a trip to the sushi train at Sora Sushi. It’s novel to watch the little plates bumble by, and hopefully, the whole experience of seeing their daring friend dive in will cause your kid to depart from the Sora Roll
(crab, avocado and shrimp) to the Sashimi. It happened for me when my kid was a fourth grader; maybe it will happen to you.
Whereas your kid will eat healthfully and be in charge of the game
“It’s totally easy to get my kid to eat veggies,” said almost no parent, ever. But hey – when they get to pick their own, sometimes you experience a win for Team Parent. The salad bar and other cold and hot-bar offerings at Market of Choice are some of my go-tos for both economy and ease, and there’s no reason that can’t extend to the kids in your life. Try the salad bar, sure – or cruise your kid through the Mezze bar, where they can build their own falafel, and you can grin Grinch-style as they choose from what is a decidedly veggie-heavy slate of offerings.
Sure, you could get home from a busy workday, go straight to the kitchen and whip out a repast featuring bread, cheese and butter cooked on the flattop — but we all know some days are just not like that.
Just give them what they like already
Sure, you could get home from a busy workday, go straight to the kitchen and whip out a repast featuring bread, cheese and butter cooked on the flattop — but we all know some days are just not like that. Some days, busting out one more grilled cheese or pot of mac and cheese is beyond you, and that’s where a couple local spots might come in handy. Check out Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese — conveniently located near the stores you might still need to shop at for school supplies — for yummy variations on your kids’ favorite meal. Or, visit Junior’s Grill, the mac & cheese food cart that now moves around, for eats both kids and adults will enjoy.
Because burgers are delicious
Smash burgers are so yummy, and this newspaper has made no bones about the fact that we crave Americana Burger constantly. At $8 for a burger, you have two choices: Order one for the kid after school and hope they don’t like it so you can have it – or give up the ghost and order two right away. Either way, you will thank you.
Best Place for a Sweet Treat, Best of Central Oregon Style
In our recent Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll, Bonta Gelato took the top spot for Best Dessert. If that place is not already on your radar, are you even a Bendite? Also winning a top spot in the sweet-treat department: Dandy’s Drive-In for Best Milkshake. With a huge menu of flavors and servers who roller-skate to your car, you’re kinda depriving your kid of the most Americana of Americana things by not rolling in here after school.
The path to becoming the coolest aunt ever? TeaCupfuls. Full stop.
Nicole Vulcan
By Nicole Vulcan
Brit-Pub Coming to the West Side
The Commonwealth Pub planned as sports pub, with a focus on local music and musicians
Anew pub in Bend aims to combine live local music and a British-inspired vibe. The Commonwealth Pub is the latest project for Dan Larsson, a former immigration lawyer, and his partner Bob O’Connor. Larsson is also a local musician who plays in bands including Beatles cover band Juju Eyeball, Superball and Shine, he told the Source Weekly. O’Connor, meanwhile, is a “former collegiate soccer player and music buff and has been part of building several top venues here in Bend, such as Drake, Washington, Mountain Burger and the new Cascade Lakes Brewing, to name a few,” Larsson described in an email.
The Commonwealth Pub, planned to open in October, is located in the Century Center area off of Century Drive on Bend’s west side. The pub is British-inspired but will also have offerings inspired by Commonwealth nations such as Canada, Australia, Jamaica and India. Outside the pub will sit at least two food trucks, including Hand Held Happiness, a British-inspired truck offering handheld meat pies, fries and other foods from Commonwealth Nations. Another local cart, Whappo’s, featuring Caribbean food, will also set up shop outside the new pub, Larsson told the Source.
Hand Held Happiness replaces the Italian street food truck, Cotto, which moved out of its location Sept. 3 and will take a few weeks off before setting up at The Podski food cart lot, its owners told the Source Weekly.
The pub will feature TVs for watching sports found in the Commonwealth — including rugby, soccer, cricket and hockey— and will also focus on live music.
“Our focus is on treating musicians and performers fairly with proper compensation as well as a professional stage, sound system, and lights,” Larsson described. “As musicians ourselves, we know that sometimes performers get a raw deal and music lovers and the audience often suffer for that. We created a venue specifically to disrupt that system, with voluntary cover charges, fair wages for the bands, and much more!”
Look for an opening date announcement soon.
The Commonwealth Pub
30 SW Century Dr., Bend 541-306-3225
thecommonwealthpub.com
Opening date projected for October 2024
Courtesy Commonwealth Pub Facebook
SC The Auteur Era
Having a conversation about the American New Wave
By Jared Rasic
For cinephiles like me, it’s hard to really overhype the importance of the American New Wave (AKA New Hollywood) era of movies that lasted from the mid-1960s to the early ‘80s. It was not only important in how, for a very limited amount of time, the era transferred the authorial role of filmmaking from the studios to auteur directors, but it also served to rescue Hollywood at a time when the advent of television weakened the power of the studio system.
Hollywood was so desperate to replicate the success of “The Sound of Music” and the big-budget spectacle of the late 1940s and early ‘50s, that the studios were pumping out musicals, war movies and historical epics almost exclusively. Eventually, it became the youth who were spending the most time (meaning money) in movie theaters, so filmmakers started appealing to the socially liberal/rebellious kids of the time. For basically the first time since pre-code Hollywood and the advent of the Hays Code in 1930, films were allowed to have some moral ambiguity and weren’t underwritten with the express desire to promote “traditional American values.”
The New Hollywood era arguably began with Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove” in 1964, but it was the release (and massive critical and financial success) of Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde” and Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate” in 1967 that tentatively showed Hollywood that if they trusted artists and basically gave them carte blanche to follow their muse, then there was serious money to be made. This era gave us (just to name a few) actual masterpieces like “Cool Hand Luke,”
“Faces,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “Easy Rider,” “Catch-22,” “Watermelon Man,” “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” “The Last Picture Show,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “The French Connection,” “Harold and Maude,” “Star Wars,” “Apocalypse Now,”
“The Godfather,” “Alien,” “The Long Goodbye,” “Chinatown” and so, so many more. This is, without question, the strongest period of American cinema in history.
The death of the New Hollywood came hard and fast with the high-profile flop of Michael Cimino’s “Heaven’s Gate” in 1980 (made $3.5 million on a $44 million budget), the initial underperformance of “Blade Runner” and then the tragic deaths of two illegally hired child actors and actor Vic Morrow on the set of 1983’s “Twilight Zone: The Movie.”
Just imagine being a cinephile in the 1970s, going to the theater every week and discovering new filmmakers like Robert Altman, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, William Friedkin, Hal Ashby, Woody Allen, Peter Bogdanovich, David Lynch, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorsese, John Cassavetes, Francis Ford Coppola, John Carpenter, Brian De Palma, Shirley Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, Mel Brooks, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Ridley Scott, Roman Polanski and dozens more. When I dream of heaven, it’s a lot like that.
Nestled right in between “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II” came what I consider not only to be Francis
Ford Coppola’s unsung masterpiece, but one of the true high water marks of the American New Wave. “The Conversation” from 1974 is a paranoid, neo-noir thriller that was not only decades ahead of its time, but features the career-best work of Gene Hackman, composer David Shire and the great editor/sound designer/director Walter Murch. The film also features one of the five legendary performances of the astonishingly brilliant John Cazale, whose feature film debut was as Fredo in “The Godfather” and followed that up with “The Conversation,” “The Godfather Part II,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and then, posthumously, “The Deer Hunter.” Is it the greatest run of any actor in history? I like to think so.
Currently being re-released for its 50th anniversary as a 4K remaster with a new introduction by Coppola, “The Conversation” is not only worth catching in a theater while you can, but one of the building blocks for life as a cinephile. It’s literally one of the best movies ever made, and the restoration is gorgeous, so the time to see Hackman, Cazale, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall and Allen Garfield square off against each other has never been better.
I know it’s been a while since Coppola has made a good movie (I think it might have been 1997’s “The Rainmaker), but I’m optimistic for his new film — September’s “Megalopolis.” I hope it’s his swan song and not some ridiculously out-of-touch manifesto on cancel
culture, critical failure and the modern difficulties of the straight, white male.
Regardless of anything, I’ll be there opening night for “Megalopolis” because Coppola has earned it. “Apocalypse Now,” the first two “Godfather” films and “The Conversation” means he has, if not my trust, then at least my loyalty. He has a lifetime pass to make whatever he wants, self-indulgent or otherwise. Still, I’m a little nervous as Coppola has seemed quite out of touch (and creepy) in interviews and set photos over the last year. Regardless of quality or content, it’s incredibly depressing that Coppola, the author of multiple cinematic masterpieces, had to spend $120 million of his own money to finance “Megalopolis." If anything, this once again proves that the era of New Hollywood is long dead and that we bury our giants, not with fanfare and respect, but with silence and one eye on our phones. Long live whatever comes next.
PS. For anyone looking to start their journey into the cinematic wonderland that is the American New Wave, The Criterion Channel just released a collection of New Hollywood classics from ’66 to ’79 featuring classics like Malick’s “Days of Heaven,” Bogdanavich’s “The Last Picture Show,” Sidney Lumet’s “Dog Day Afternoon,” and Nichols’ “The Graduate”…just to name a few. You won’t regret falling down this rabbit hole.
“The Conversation”
Dir. Francis Ford Coppola Grade: A+ Now Playing at Tin Pan Theater
Cour tesyParamount
The Many and Unique Plants of the Owyhee Canyonlands
More than two dozen species make their home in the harsh volcanic soils of this wild landscape
By Anne White
Millions of years ago, the Owyhee Canyonlands was a region of intense volcanic and erosional activity. Lava flows oozed across the landscape, and ash exploded from domes and calderas, blanketing the surrounding area. When the ash settled and turned to rock, water and wind later carved the deep, rugged canyons of present day.
Though the picture this elicits is not fertile or bright, without its molten past, the Owyhee would not be the stunning ecosystem it is today, supporting a rich diversity of species.
The diverse geological history and geomorphological processes that formed the iconic rock formations of the Owyhee also created uniquely fertile soil. The layering of various ashes, eroded lava and other organic material produced soil with very distinct chemical properties, resulting in a high degree of plant speciation — that is, plant species uniquely adapted to grow in these very specific and confined soil conditions.
More than 1,200 vascular plants (plants that move water and nutrients throughout the plant, including trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns and flowering plants) have been found here, accounting for one-quarter of the flora in the state of Oregon.
In fact, at least 26 endemic plants — species which are found nowhere else on earth — grow in the volcanic soils of the
Owyhee, and many of these are also listed as threatened or endangered by the State of Oregon. Although botanists have been studying the Owyhee for decades, new endemic plants are still being discovered, underscoring the ecological value of this vital landscape.
Read on to learn more about three of the endemic plants that make their home in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands.
Owyhee clover
Perhaps the best and oldest known endemic flower in the Canyonlands, first documented in the mid-1950s, is the namesake Owyhee clover (Trifolium owyheense). The Owyhee clover’s brilliant pink sphere of blossoms stand out amongst the sparse, fragile slopes of volcanic ash or diatomaceous talus on which it grows. Listed as endangered in the state of Oregon since 1989, there are less than 50 populations of the clover.
Although it bears a resemblance to big-headed clover, Owyhee clover’s three leaflets and large head were described by botanist Helen Gilkey as “strikingly different not only from any species previously known in the state, but…from any thus far described.” Owyhee clover has uniquely adapted to produce seeds even in the absence of pollinators, ensuring its successful reproduction in the variable and extreme conditions of the Owyhee Canyonlands.
Narrow-leaved monardella
In 2014, narrow-leaved monardella (Monardella angustifolia), also known as the Leslie Gulch monardella, was identified in the Leslie Gulch and Succor Creek drainages growing on rhyolitic ash tuff outcrops. For decades it was thought to be a variation of mountain coyotemint (Monardella odoratissima), but more scrutinous observation determined the leaf structure, among a few other characteristics, distinguished the monardella as its own species.
Unlike most other flowering plants in the area, narrow-leaved monardella is characterized by a “monsoonal phenology,” in which summer precipitation can produce a second flowering period in autumn, an unusual adaptation among plants in the Owyhee. The species was listed as threatened in the state of Oregon in 2023 and has only three known populations.
Bentonite biscuitroot
The most recently identified endemic species in the Owyhee and the newest addition to Oregon’s endangered species list (added in spring 2024), the bentonite biscuitroot (Lomatium bentonitum) is named for the bentonite clay-rich outcroppings where it grows. This plant is known as a “cryptic species,” meaning it appears the same as another species but differs genetically. Recent DNA testing
led to scientists discovering this new “extremely rare endemic” biscuitroot species, with just one known population found within the Succor Creek area.
The diversity and splendor of the flora in the Owyhee Canyonlands, including the more than two dozen endemic species, underscore the profound botanical value of the Owyhee landscape. Unfortunately, and despite being among the most remote regions in the lower 48 states, Oregon’s Owyhee is also vulnerable to an array of factors that threaten native plants and wildlife, wildlands and cultural resources.
Recognizing both the need and opportunity to conserve this special place, Oregon senators Wyden and Merkley have introduced legislation to permanently protect more than 1 million acres of the Owyhee Canyonlands. Oregon Natural Desert Association is pleased to support their legislative proposal, and is leading a complementary campaign to designate the Owyhee as our nation’s next national monument, in case Congress fails to pass the senators’ wilderness bill. For more information, please visit ProtecttheOwyhee.org.
— Anne White is the Policy Manager at Oregon Natural Desert Association, a conservation organization that protects and restores Oregon's high desert public lands, waters and wildlife. Read more of her work at onda.org/author/anneonda-org/.
Owyhee clover.
By Savannah Mendoza
Entangle: Where Art, Music and Community Intertwine
Invisible Threads hosts a two-day exhibit of interactive art, workshops and music performances
An upcoming event offers a unique opportunity to experience art in a way that’s both immersive and meaningful. Whether you’re an artist, a supporter of the arts or simply curious, this event promises to be a memorable experience that brings people together in creative ways. The Entangle exhibit, hosted by Invisible Threads, is a twoday immersive art experience, scheduled for Sept. 13 and 14 at Open Space Event Studios. The organizers invite you to explore a world where art, community and connection intertwine.
Invisible Threads, a series of events organized throughout Central Oregon, is about creating safe space for people to gather, enjoy music and support the creative community. The Entangle exhibit, led by community organizers Caitlin Wraith and Rachel Lee Carmen, brings this mission to life by blending visual performance with interactive art, encouraging attendees to engage with the art and each other.
What began as a series of intimate house shows two years ago has grown into a larger community-driven initiative that continues to evolve.
“I always wanted to create an inclusive, safe environment where art and music can coexist and where creative voices are empowered,” says Wraith, reflecting on the roots of the Invisible Threads project.
The “Entangle” exhibit features 14 interactive art installations, workshops, live performances and film
screenings, showcasing the talents of over 30 local artists. Among the installations, Wraith described a writing room set up inside a cozy blanket fort — a space where participants can sit, relax and write with intention.
“Entangle is more than supporting local art and music,” Wraith explains.
“We’re creating a space where people can feel safe, vulnerable and truly connected.”
Part of Invisible Threads mission is to foster a sense of community that extends beyond the exhibit and event.
Wraith and Carmen emphasize the generosity and collaborative spirit of the participating artists.
“I’m really looking forward to the connections that are made,” Wraith says.
“It’s been beautiful to witness these artists, many of whom have never worked together before, not only become collaborators but become friends.”
“What drew me to Invisible Threads initially was the warmth, cohesiveness and generosity that defines these events,” Carmen adds. “It’s a space where everyone — artists and attendees alike can feel supported and inspired.”
Entangle Exhibit Fri., Sep. 13 and Sat., Sep. 14, Noon-10pm Open Space Event Studios
220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend invisiblethreadevents.com/entangle-exhibit-1 $10-$20
Presented by Invisible Threads, Entangle is a two-day immersive and interactive art exhibit held at Open Space Event Studios.
Courtesy Invisible Threads Instagram
Terranaut Beer Sets Sail in Bend
New brewery moves into the tiny brewhouse that was 10 Barrel Brewing’s maiden voyage
pretation of the Czech classic: a dry-hopped Italian-style pilsner.
beer lover, is why Terranaut already has an Extra Special Bitter out, called For Pete’s Sake. And an English-style brown ale. In fact, that brown ale has a variant with coffee and vanilla.
Pyka started brewing at 10 Barrel shortly after moving to Bend in 2013, but his first exposure to brewing came courtesy of a high school buddy’s dad. Followed by his college roommate. The craft followed him until he realized it was the path he was destined to pursue. Striking out on his own — with business partners in Peter Brantley and Katie Dunbar — has been the goal for a while now.
“Pete and I have been good friends for 10 years and do a weekly bottle share with a couple other friends. A lot of conversations about beer, breweries, and opening a brewery have happened on those get togethers…And Katie is my partner in business and in life.” The dream didn’t come to a head until after brewing a collaboration beer with Todd Clement at Monkless Belgian Ales.
Cut to: Terranaut has moved into the brewery space formerly occupied by Monkless, which was previously the original location of 10 Barrel Brewing (when it began on the 10-barrel brewing system that Terranaut now brews on) in Boyd Acres. Today it’s referred to as the Brewer’s District, as it’s also home to 10 Barrel East Side, Van Henion, Bridge 99, Oblivion and Craft Kitchen & Brewing — not to mention the (non-public) production facilities of Bend Brewing and Crux Fermentation Project.
Until the taproom is permitted to open, eagle-eyed local beer lovers may have spotted Terranaut beers out in the wild. Brantley, being an English
Says Pyka, “We'll definitely be doing some cocktail and dessert-inspired beers. The way I'd describe how we're positioning our lineup is an even mix of classic styles, modern styles and experimental beer.” That explains why there’s only one IPA — in the translucent, bitter West Coast style — along with other beers that feature culinary ingredients including basil, Buddha’s hands and herbal tea. “IPA obviously dominates craft beer,” notes Pyka. “We're definitely going to brew our fair share under that umbrella, but we're going to be very careful to not have our lineup dominated by IPAs…We don't want to go too far into pandering to the masses because I feel like that can easily cause you to lose your passion that brought you to where you are now.”
As for the name, “terre” is the Latin root word for Earth or land and “naut” refers to sailing, so while an astronaut is a celestial sailor, this neologism means someone who explores our earthly realm. “We wanted something that wasn’t necessarily a dictionary word and evoked some mysterioso…But it also goes deeper than that. We’ll be exploring beer styles and unconventional ingredients from around the world.” Those Buddha’s hands? That’s the lemony citrus fruit that originated in India and sort of looks like a Pacman ghost on acid.
Pyka’s a musician as well, and declares that music plays a vital role within the fledgling brewery. “We’ll be spinning our own records, and we’ll be doing a bring-your-own vinyl night,” he describes. Pyka is really looking forward to a weekend in the Gorge to see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, as he’s a big fan of psych-rock.
As he notes, “it’ll show up as a few Easter eggs in our taproom.” The tiedyed Terranaut shirts are already ready, once the place is permitted to open. No word yet on an exact date for the taproom to open, but Terranaut’s owners are hoping for late September.
70. "I thank God I was raised Catholic, so ___ will always be dirty" (John Waters)
71. Stood petrified
By Brendan Emmett Quigley
DOWN
1. Mistake on the mound
2. Spy novelist Furst
3. Vegas alternative
4. It comes between Papa and Romeo
5. The drip, e.g.: Abbr.
6. Rock used in Oriental art
7. One to grow on
8. Shape of a character, in typeface
9. Current amount
10. Arab royal / Metaphorical sticking point
11. Not quite closed
12. Hoped in an Uber, say
13. Fudge alternative
21. Word files
22. Makes a tuck
24. Dynafit products
26. Start a rally
27. YA target audience
28. Titled person
29. Italian wine commune
30. Artful dodges
32. Automaton of Jewish folklore
33. "Yo, dawg"
34. Wedding gown part
37. "Wyatt ___ and the Cowboy War"
40. Unit of Time? / Zip around
42. "St Matthew Passion" composer
44. "That'll do"
45. Playboi Carti songs
48. Google phones
50. Script doctor
52. Picture puzzle
54. Bird beaks
55. Arabian Peninsula sultanate
56. Grandma
57. Humiliated people step on one
58. Lethal killer with tiny arms
60. Prefix with plastics and medicine
61. Modern-day style
62. City roughly halfway between Buffalo and Cleveland
65. Coppertone bottle letters
Pearl’s Puzzle
Puzzle for the week of September 2, 2024
ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES
The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will “Back to school; time to be ” - author unknown
Answer for the week of August 26, 2024
“
“They say the universe is expanding. That should help with the traffic.” — Steven Wright
ASTROLOGY
By Rob Brezsny
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In all of world history, which author has sold the most books? The answer is Agatha Christie, born under the sign of Virgo. Readers have bought over 2 billion copies of her 70-plus books. I present her as a worthy role model for you during the next nine months. In my astrological opinion, this will be your time to shine, to excel, to reach new heights of accomplishment. Along with Christie, I invite you to draw encouragement and inspiration from four other Virgo writers who have flourished: 1. Stephen King, 400 million in sales from 77 books. 2. Kyotaro Nishimura, 200 million in sales from over 400 books. 3. Leo Tolstoy, 413 million from 48 books. 4. Paul Coelho, 350 million from 28 books.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Centuries before the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, there was a Greek myth with similar themes. It featured Persephone, a divine person who descended into the realm of the dead but ultimately returned in a transfigured form. The ancient Festival of Eleusis, observed every September, honored Persephone's down-going and redemption—as well as the cyclical flow of decay and renewal in every human life. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to observe your own version of a Festival of Eleusis by taking an inventory: What is disintegrating and decomposing in your own world? What is ripe for regeneration and rejuvenation? What fun action can you do that resembles a resurrection?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to take inventory of your community and your network of connections. Here are questions to ask yourself as you evaluate whether you already have exactly what you need or else may need to make adjustments. 1. Are you linked with an array of people who stimulate and support you? 2. Can you draw freely on influences that further your goals and help you feel at home in the world? 3. Do you bestow favors on those you would like to receive favors from? 4. Do you belong to groups or institutions that share your ideals and give you power you can’t access alone?
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The coming weeks would be an excellent time to file lawsuits against everyone who has ever wronged you, hurt you, ignored you, misunderstood you, tried to change you into something you're not, and failed to give you what you deserve. I recommend you sue each of them for $10 million. The astrological omens suggest you now have the power to finally get compensated for the stupidity and malice you have had to endure. JUST KIDDING! I lied. The truth is, now is a great time to feel intense gratitude for everyone who has supported you, encouraged you, and appreciated you for who you really are. I also suggest you communicate your thanks to as many of your personal helpers and heroes as you can.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 2015, a large earthquake struck Nepal, registering 7.8 on the Richter scale. It was so powerful, it shrunk Mt. Everest. I mention this, Aries, because I suspect you will generate good fortune in the coming months whenever you try to shrink metaphorical mountains. Luckily, you won’t need to resort to anything as forceful and ferocious as a massive earthquake. In fact, I think your best efforts will be persistent, incremental, and gradual. If you haven’t gotten started yet, do so now.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): We don’t know the astrological sign of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, who ruled from 51 to 30 BCE. But might she have been a Taurus? What other tribe of the zodiac would indulge in the extravagance of bathing in donkey milk? Her staff kept a herd of 700 donkeys for this regimen. Before you dismiss the habit as weird, please understand that it wasn’t uncommon in ancient times. Why? Modern science has shown that donkey milk has anti-aging, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities. And as astrologers know, many of you Tauruses are drawn to luxurious and healing influences that also enhance beauty. I recommend you cultivate such influences with extra verve in the coming days.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Progress was all right. Only it went on too long.” Sagittarian humorist James Thurber said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Well, I am very happy about the progress you’ve been making recently—the blooming and expanding and learning you have been enjoying. But I’m guessing you would now benefit from a period of refining what you have gained. Rather than even more progress, I feel you need to consolidate and integrate the progress you have so robustly earned.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The people of Northern Ireland have over 70 colorful slang terms for being drunk. These include splootered, stonkied, squiffy, cabbaged, stinkered, ballbagged, wingdinged, bluttered, and wanked. I am begging you, Capricorn, to refrain from those states for at least two weeks. According to my reading of the omens, it's important for you to avoid the thrills and ills of alcohol. I am completely in favor of you pursuing natural highs, however. I would love you to get your mind blown and your heart opened through epiphanies and raptures that take you to the frontiers of consciousness.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Beginning 11,000 years ago, humans began to breed the fig. It's the world’s oldest cultivated food, preceding even wheat, barley, and legumes. Many scholars think that the fig, not the apple, was the forbidden fruit that God warned Adam and Eve not to munch in the famous Biblical passage. These days, though, figs rarely make the list of the fruits people love most. Their taste is regarded by some as weird, even cloying. But for our purposes, I will favorably quote the serpent in the Garden of Eden: "When you eat the fig, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God." This is my elaborate way of telling you that now may be an excellent time to sample a forbidden fruit. Also: A serpent may have wise counsel for you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In two trillion galaxies stretched out across 93 billion light years, new stars are constantly being born. Their birth process happens in stellar nurseries, where dense clouds of gas coalesce into giant spheres of light and heat powered by the process of nuclear fusion. If you don’t mind me engaging in a bit of hyperbole, I believe that you Geminis are now immersed in a small-scale, metaphorical version of a stellar nursery. I have high hopes for the magnificence you will beget in the coming months.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): The planet Mars usually stays in your sign for less than two months every two years. But the pattern will be different in the coming months. Mars will abide in Cancer from September 5 to November 4 and then again from January 27 till April 19 in 2025. The last time the red planet made such an extended visit was in 2007 and 2008, and before that in 1992 and 1993. So what does it mean? In the least desirable scenario, you will wander aimlessly, distracted by trivial battles and unable to decide which dreams to pursue. In the best scenario, you will be blessed with a sustained, fiery devotion to your best and most beautiful ambitions.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Famous rock musicians have on occasion spiced up their live shows by destroying their instruments on stage. Kurt Cobain of the band Nirvana smashed many guitars. So did Jimi Hendrix, who even set his guitars on fire. I can admire the symbolic statement of not being overly attached to objects one loves. But I don't recommend that approach to you in the coming weeks. On the contrary, I believe this is a time for you to express extra care for the tools, machines, and apparatus that give you so much. Polish them up, get repairs done, show them you love them. And if you need new gizmos and gear to enhance your self-expression, get them in the near future.
AWAKENING YOUR INNER HERO
A COLUMN TO HELP LOCALS LIVE A KINDER AND MORE COURAGEOUS LIFE
By Burt Gershater
A Few Random Love Stories
If you really want to have some fun, keep looking for love stories in your life. If you can’t find them right away, create them. It’s an invaluable life skill. First off, let me begin by clearly stating that I don’t believe anything is truly random.
Love story # 1.
The only reason my dear wife, Wendy, and I moved to Bend after 50 years living in Flagstaff, Arizona is simple: love. It’s a common story. Our daughter, Jessie, living in Bend with her husband, Jesse, called us and said, “The house right behind us just went on the market. If you don’t buy it right away it will be sold in a few days.” Two of our dear grandchildren live there, too!
I can’t tell you how many people in the past years I had told, “We will never leave Flagstaff, this is our home. We love it here. Our children were born here. My counseling career began here 48 years ago and continues to this day. This is our community, our friends… our home!” And I meant it, as far as I could tell at the time.
Two days after the phone call, we bought the house in Bend with only one video viewing.
Huh?
Thoughtless?
Impulsive?
All that we know now, after moving in on December 20, 2020, is that we love it here! We pinch ourselves nearly every day, roll our eyes in disbelief and say, “These have been the best years of our lives.” We’re both in our 70s and our lives, thankfully, have been darn good!
Huh?
True love can make a person say, “Huh?” a lot.
Love story # 2…and a few more.
As I type this message, I’m realizing the obvious: there is way too much love to write about.
But here I go.
We just flew back to Flagstaff for two weeks. We landed and get picked up at the airport by our buddy, Jim, who loaned us his spotless Toyota 4Runner. Then, he gifted us two tickets to a talk by Kevin Fedarko, the author of “A Walk in the Park”, the book I wrote about just last month!
Random?
Huh?
That is another love story.
The next night the Desert Falcons had a reunion — a group of old guys who have hiked, climbed and adventured together in the Arizona deserts for over 40 years. We got lost together, physically and emotionally bruised together, reached tops of isolated buttes and cliffs together, got stuck by cactus everywhere on our bodies, sung songs by campfires, watched sunsets and bright starry nights. We joined for another love gathering in Sedona.
How many more will we share?
The following night my book club gathered.
Some joined in person, some on Zoom.
Twenty-plus years of reading, learning, laughing, crying and hardly any arguing!
In October, it’s my turn to make our book selection. I will assign two short ones. One is about our ever-guiding Ten Commandments. The other is about Socrates, the man who never stopped asking questions. He had endless curiosity. My 91-year-old seventh-grade English teacher, Mr. Ashe, recommended it to me. One more evening of tears, laughter, learning, sharing…and mostly, more love.
When I arrived in Flagstaff 54 years ago, I stood in line at a new Denny’s restaurant, looking for a job. In front of me was a stranger, Merritt. A few weeks later, he was teaching me how to flip fried eggs and untold other kitchen skills. For the next two years, I cooked meals for busloads of tourists heading to the Grand Canyon and everyone else who needed a meal.
Wendy and I had dinner with Merritt, his dear wife, Cathy, and dear cousin, Mel, on our fourth night in town. We are family to this day. True love lasts forever.
We have a week left in Flagstaff before we fly back home to Bend. God willing, there will be more love stories to share. That’s my bet.
I love you!
- Burt Gershater is a local counselor, leadership trainer, speaker and writer. He can be reached at info@burtgershater.com
TAKE ME HOME
By James Keane Broker, RE/MAX Key Properties
Igot quite a few emails with some thoughts, some questions and the like regarding some of the rule changes regarding buyer broker agreements, so here we are entertaining another mailbag!
Q: My spouse and I have been looking to purchase a home as unrepresented buyers. Why are listing agents so rude? They ask a million questions, want us to send them all kinds of documents we aren’t comfortable providing to a relative stranger. Why are they making this so difficult for us?
A: To your first question, no idea. As for the documents they are asking for, I’m guessing perhaps pre-approval or proof of funds. Maybe a picture of IDs? If they are asking you for these, they are attempting to properly vet you, as meeting strangers in an empty house can pose some serious safety concerns for both the listing agent and their client’s property. Would you meet strangers off Craigslist at your client’s empty home?
As a member of the Central Oregon Association of Realtors, myself and my peers have already been vetted and can access the property without the accompaniment of the listing agent or homeowner, which could perhaps save some time. Buyers’ agents have already vetted their own clients and are held responsible for their clients while touring the property. Another factor is every agent has their own schedule and may not be able to (or want to, in some cases, I suppose). If it were me in the situation, I would ask for a pre-approval, and begin to do some of my own due diligence in terms of talking with the unrepresented buyers and their lender to ensure they are in fact potential buyers, and they are qualified to purchase the property. This is part of a “new” process that everyone —buyers/sellers/agents/ brokerages — is trying to navigate so,
unfortunately, like a lot of “new” things, will take some getting used to. You may or may not remember, but prior to the “2008 Recession,” many lenders did not require proof of income or tax returns to approve a home loan.
Q: Why do I have to sign an agreement prior to seeing a home? Maybe I am not ready to be locked into working with an agent, but want to tour a home?
Lovingly maintained, unassuming 4-bedroom Westside cottage with beautiful, bright ADU sits above 1100 sf 2 car garage. Designed for privacy, this property has a whimsical, fenced-in backyard with a patio, Spa, old-growth Ponderosa pines, easy to maintain turf & colorful landscaping on a drip-system. The 1-bedroom ADU boasts a sunny deck with views of Lava Butte & the Old Mill Smokestacks & an open oor-plan with cathedral ceilings. Situated on a dead-end street with driveways in the front & through Dog Alley, there is plenty of parking, little tra c & easy access. Walkable to downtown & the River Trail, this is an old Bend gem with upgrades. The 1458 sf main home was remodeled in 2018 with 2 full bathrooms, slab quartz countertops, new appliances, on-demand hot water heater, gas heat stove and an open oor plan. The roof was replaced in 2023 when the 97% peak e ciency solar system was installed. Turnkey & ready for someone to enjoy, this home on 1.5 lots is sure to please.
A: I got a couple of similar questions to that, and the shortest answer is so that buyers can best negotiate with their agents about their expectations of their agent, and the agent can discuss their fee or compensation. To provide you with a solution to your question, buyer broker agreements need to be specific, so you could enter into an agreement for an individual property, if you want to see it quickly. Please beware, your agreement could (and likely) has a stipulation that if you come to terms within a set period (90 and 180 days are common) to purchase that specific property, a buyer’s agent could be due a commission. Now, whether they or their broker want to pursue that commission is a different matter. My free tip of the week: Read contracts prior to signing them, and make sure you understand them.
A: With interest rates coming down, I might be able to purchase something (a little something) outside of Bend sometime in the next six months to a year! Sorry not a question, just excited! Awesome, that is great news for you! Do yourself a favor and please speak with a local lender now, so that you can find out what you are approved for, that way if rates drop more, you can beat the masses to refinance or purchase. Lenders also have knowledge on when you may want to lock or float your rate, once you have identified the property you would like to purchase.
