Source Weekly April 25, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE:

It’s here – our annual Restaurant Guide, back for another year and bigger than ever! You can’t miss the giant guide inside this edition; it’s the big thing, probably falling out of this book as you read this. We are thrilled to bring you yet another edition of our annual guide where offer listings of all the places we know about, and also we name a Restaurant of the Year, a Food Cart of the Year and so much more. And since we’re on the topic of food, picking up on the topic of food trends, Julianna LaFollette interviews restaurateurs who have moved into Central Oregon’s food scene in recent years and takes a look at the effect on the scene as a whole for this week’s Feature. Plus, get the “inside track” info on what our featured chefs from the Restaurant Guide like to eat around town in this week’s Chow. And if food is not your thing, there’s plenty more news, culture and other great stuff to read inside this edition. Thanks for reading!

Views like this remind us that warmer days and sunny afternoons spent on the river are ahead. We’d like to

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

Healthy Adventures Await!

OPINION

Council, Mayor Should Be Paid Like Professionals

We’ve said it before, and now that it’s up for discussion once again, we’ll repeat our long-held opinion: Bend deserves a professional council, and with professionalism comes commensurate pay.

This month, the City of Bend’s Compensation Committee delivered a report to the Bend City Council, outlining its recommendations for increasing councilor and mayor pay. Don’t get bowled over by the statistics when we say that the committee recommended a tripling of councilor pay and a doubling of mayor pay, because right now, councilors and mayors don’t get paid very much at all — far less than many of their counterparts around the region, the committee said. With a councilor currently earning less than $10,000 and the mayor earing $19,000 for the many meetings, constituent services and other work they do, it’s hardly a mint — and really, both Bend and our public servants deserve more.

Not only does current Mayor Melanie Kebler put in far more time and energy than what $19,000 would garner in the private sector, but in terms of quality of service, we believe we always get what we pay for — and paying councilors and mayors a living wage may just add more professionalism to the job.

And then there’s the other very big

reason we’ve always supported a fair wage for our mayor and city council: It offers the chance for a more diverse body of elected officials. Right now, a working-class — or even middle-class — individual has to sacrifice a lot in order to serve on this council for the pay it garners. We may never know how many people might have stepped up to run, had it not been slightly above a volunteer position in pay grade. People who earn lower incomes, single parents, those on fixed incomes — these are all people who we’d wager would be strained to put in the time and the work that the public currently expects from this council — and it’s only going to get more intense. Every time we turn around, Bend has leapt up in population a few-thousand more people, and some of them are going to want constituent services from their councilors.

For those concerned about the notion of self-dealing, this, like the process followed by many other public officials, would only go into effect for those who serve in the next term, not the current one — meaning some of the councilors who vote in favor of this pay increase may never see it added to their own paychecks.

But Bend is growing, and it’s beyond time to pay our council like the (parttime) professionals we want them to be.

Courtesy City of Bend

OLetters

JAMIE CAMPAIGNS FAIRLY

In the Democratic contest for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District a negative attack campaign has been launched against Jamie McLeod-Skinner.

During her working life of public service, Jamie developed a collaborative approach and collegial culture that has served her well. Her listening and problem-solving skills helped her win Democratic primaries in the past and will enable her to win the primary this May and go on to win the general election in November.

More importantly, once elected, her experience will assure the forging of bi-partisan partnerships in Congress to get bills passed that will help Oregonians and the rest of America have improved and sustainable lives. She holds dear the words, “always leave a place better than you found it.”

Conversely, not only does her opponent not reject the aggressive personal attacks; she repeats them on her own website against Jamie.

Jamie wants to focus on the kitchen table issues that are common across OR05 and has deep knowledge of distinctions between the needs regionally and between our rural and urban concerns.

This primary is absolutely critical for Oregonians and for the nation. Do not get swayed by the underhanded campaign against Jamie – we know her to be forthright, brilliant, and capable. Let’s help her win this May.

—Susan G. Cobb

LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDING WILDFIRE

To the Bend Community, I moved from Talent, Oregon, back to Bend last summer, after many years away. You may know Talent from making international news back in 2020, when over 3,000 homes and businesses burned to the ground starting from a small grass fire in Ashland. And, because of dry conditions and unprecedented winds, it spread quickly north to Talent and Phoenix.

It is because of this fire, and my experience and trauma from this fire, that I write this letter.

I love the River West neighborhood where I live. I love its alleys, its tall ponderosas and quirky charm. But something here frightens me. Along these alleys I'm witnessing what I can describe as no less than wildfire kindling.

Piles of pine needles and dead vegetation, more pine needles and sappy cones covering roofs, stacks of old wood pushed up against peeling wood sheds and dried-out fences.

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!

It took less than that for a windy day to pick up embers from a small fire and nearly decimate 12 square miles down in Talent and Phoenix. There, ordinances are in place for the summer months regarding removing dried vegetation and warming fires. However, Ashland, where the fire started, had resisted cleaning up blackberry bushes along the creek drainage in town where the fire started. For this reason, with the dry conditions and wind, the fire went out of control. It's a miracle only three human lives were lost, yet still a tragedy. This fire started midday when many people weren't home, so many lost everything and countless pets were lost. Here, the proximity of properties, this presence of dried out wood and vegetation and the sappy ponderosas could create the same nightmare.

I implore homeowners in River West to clean their debris, and to hose down dried-out fences. I ask the city why there are not strict ordinances and fines in place and enforced, regarding removing flammable yard debris and wood burning warming fires during the dry months.

Sincerely, Your Concerned Neighbor.

—Mira Brockelman

WHY NOT TAKE THE BUS?

Recently, my wife had an appointment near the Old Mill District while I had some tasks to complete around the house. She wanted me to meet her so we could enjoy a leisurely walk by the river, but I just couldn't justify us taking two cars to meet up. Instead, I pulled up the Bend bus schedule and was gratified to find a bus stop just an 8-minute walk from our front door.

The bus was on time with the ride smooth and enjoyable. Not only was the trip convenient, but I got to pat myself on the back for saving some carbon output. I am now a convert to our local public transportation — which is free, by the way.

Sadly, the times that I have taken the bus, I have found ridership to be limited. I want to encourage Source readers to consider public transport; particularly if you are headed to Old Bend downtown. It's an adventure! And, you can avoid struggling to find parking.

Bus information and detailed schedules can be found at: cascadeseasttransit.com/Bend.

Happy riding.

—Tom Jerome

Letter of the Week:

TOO MANY TOMATOES

Dear The Source,

My husband set down a small portion of this huge tomato crop on the Sept. 28, 2023 issue of the Source, creating this image which I just had to paint. We handled having too many tomatoes better than the blonde woman. We gave some away and ate more than we expected. Home grown tomatoes are the Best.

“Too Many Tomatoes”

16” x 12” oil on canvas

By Suzon Schulz 4.3.24

—Suzon Schulz

If I didn’t give this original/iterated artwork the Letter of the Week, who would I even be? Thanks so much for sharing this one, which was born, readers, from a cover that Source Art Director Jennifer Galler did for the story, “Are We Dating the Same Guy? Yes.” Such a delight, Suzon! Come on by for your gift card to Palate. Also – Tom, honorable mention! Thanks for encouraging a less car-dependent lifestyle.

—Nicole Vulcan

Suzon Schulz

Tackling Absenteeism in Schools

Oregon state Rep. Hoa Nguyen (D-East Portland and Damascus) started an informal workgroup with legislators, educators, families and students to identify potential solutions for chronic absenteeism in Oregon schools.

The group had its first meeting on April 19 and will propose legislation for the 2025 session, according to a press release. Chronic absenteeism means missing 10% or more school days in an academic year. Oregon’s average rate of chronic absenteeism exceeds the national average of 26% with rates ranging from 33% to 48%.

“I’ve worked in the field of chronic absenteeism for about 10 years now, in multiple districts in Multnomah and Clackamas counties, and it’s clear to me that we need a comprehensive look at this issue so we can find a statewide solution for Oregon students,” said Nguyen.

Sen. Merkley Upcoming Town Hall

Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced April 19 that he will be holding a town hall in Deschutes and Jefferson counties on Sunday, April 28.

The town hall in Deschutes County will take place at Central Oregon Community College from 12:30 to 1:30pm in Willie Hall. The town hall in Jefferson County will be at the Madras Performing Arts Center from 3:30 to 4:30pm.

“I hold a town hall for every Oregon county, every year because there is simply no substitute to hearing directly from folks about the ideas and priorities that matter most to them and their communities. Oregonians’ thoughts help shape my work in Congress, including positions on policies, ideas for bills, and strategies for securing resources for every corner of our state,” said Merkley.

—Julianna LaFollette

$7.6 million

— Estimated operating cost of the new Deschutes County landfill site. From this week’s News story, “Deschutes County Proposes Next Landfill Site.”

Deschutes County Proposes Next Landfill Site

A committee tasked with evaluating new landfill locations made its final recommendation

By Julianna LaFollette

The Deschutes County Solid Waste Advisory Committee made its final recommendation on a new landfill site on April 16, choosing the Moon Pit location. The committee, which has been meeting for almost two years, was tasked with finding a new landfill location in Deschutes County, as Knott Landfill is expected to reach capacity in 2029.

After starting with nearly 200 potential sites at the beginning of this process, the committee narrowed the decision down to two sites: Moon Pit and Roth East, which are both located east of Bend city limits.

The committee evaluated the sites based on criteria including cost estimates, environmental considerations, site characteristics and distance from population centers, among others.

It also took into account public comments and concerns, which mainly revolved around potential disturbances to recreational activities and wildlife impact.

The Moon Pit Site, which the committee chose as the final recommendation, is 440 acres and is zoned for Surface Mining. According to the final site evaluation, Moon Pit offered the advantage of existing infrastructure given that it already included an access road, gate, scales and a well, potentially reducing site development costs.

“I moved here because there are so many restaurants here. The majority of restaurants are privately owned – mom and pop, if you will. I think that’s beautiful because it gives them their own sense of identity. Once you start seeing the cookie cutter, you lose something.”

— Justin Halvorsen of Farmer’s Deli, featured in this week’s Restaurant Guide and quoted in the Chow story, “Chef’s Choice.”

“The Moon Pit site is appealing due to its existing infrastructure, lower haul costs and lower degree of impacts to residences and wildlife,” read the report.

For the Moon Pit site, upfront costs are expected to be higher, but annual operational costs are expected to be lower. According to the evaluation, initial development costs are estimated at $50 to $64 million, which includes $15.4 to $15.9 million for land acquisition. Annual operating costs are estimated to cost $7.6 million per year, which includes $2.5 million a year for waste hauling. Annual operating costs for Knott Landfill in 2016 were about $6 million.

The report stated that upfront acquisition and development costs would be financed with a 30-year bond at a 4.75% interest rate. Household garbage collection bills are estimated to increased from the assumed current rate of $25 per month to about $29 per month with Moon Pit.

During this process, the County claimed it used a range of outreach methods to inform residents about the potential locations and obtain feedback. In addition to holding a community open house in September, the County reached out to property owners, site neighbors and Tribes, and spoke with community groups and public agencies, according to the 2024 community assessment. The County plans to continue outreach through its website, email updates and briefings.

According to Deschutes County Public Information Officer, Kim Katchur , the County anticipates holding public hearings concerning the site in May and expects the Board of Commissioners to take action sometime in June.

Courtesy Deschutes County Solid Waste

A New Means of Community Involvement

Central Oregon leaders aim to implement citizen assemblies, promoting more representative decision making

By Julianna LaFollette

Central Oregon is on the path to implementing a new method of community involvement called citizen assemblies. Speakers at an April 18 City Club forum shared the idea with attendees as a new means of decision making that involves community members.

Citizen assemblies involve a process that supports more representation in local decision making by randomly selecting individuals to discuss local issues and make recommendations to local leaders.

Members are selected by lottery and stratification. In the first stage, invitations are sent out to a group of people chosen at random. A second lottery then takes place with a process that ensures the final group represents the community in terms of gender, age, geography and socio-economic differences.

With Central Oregon’s model, called the Central Oregon Civic Action Project, affiliated with the international nonprofit, DemocracyNext, selected residents would meet for seven days over the course of two months. They would make a final recommendation, or more than one recommendation, about a certain topic or issue, based off supermajority consensus, which will go directly to all of the partnering levels of government.

The goal, according to Josh Burgess of the Central Oregon Civic Action Project, is to increase civic engagement, gain better governance outcomes and increase public trust in government institutions and elected officials.

This process would ideally create a truly diverse assembly and guarantees representation. City Councilor Megan Perkins, who was a panelist at the City Club event, sees this as a way of better understanding where residents stand on local issues.

“We learn about information in a bubble, whether it's our friends or social media, our church, our family. We have done an increasingly incredible job of reaching out to our community, whether it's town halls or community events. But, no matter what we do we still hear from basically the same 25 people over and over,” she said at the event.

“It's really hard for me as a city councilor to understand how the majority of the people feel about something and what solutions they have without putting

absolutely everything to a vote, and I think this is a really excellent way of popping that bubble.”

City Councilor Anthony Broadman, who is a strong advocate for citizen assemblies, also sees this opportunity as helpful in engaging residents and hearing from them.

“I think there's a tendency, when issues get controversial or passionate, that governments –local, state, national – tend to close their doors, and I think that we do a lot better when we actually invite more people in and give citizens good information and more power to solve the biggest challenges ahead of us,” Broadman told the Source Weekly. “I think citizen assemblies are one way of doing that.”

According to Burgess, for this process to work accurately, it’s critical to have the buy-in from local governments that they’ll endorse but stay separate from the process. It’s also important that they take the recommendations, publicly debate and report back on whether or not they will implement something.

Burgess thinks Central Oregon is a great place to implement this idea. “People tend to be active in the community,” he said. This method offers everyone an opportunity to have a more direct hand in governance or a “seat at the table,” as he describes it. It’s especially useful for members of the community that typically don’t have those types of opportunities.

Broadman agrees. “I think there's a heritage of setting aside partisanship and extremism and trying to solve problems. And so I think there's a fertile landscape here to invest in tools that do just that and bring more people into democracy while, you know, through sortition, removing some of the extremes.” He points to examples like the Coordinated Houseless Response Office, Deschutes Collaborate and the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council.

“We have a lot of big problems in our community and big things that we need our community's help in solving, and so I think that that's what we're looking to do,” said Perkins.

The Central Oregon Civic Action Project is currently in a fundraising stage, in hopes of launching its first project, tackling the topic of youth homelessness, in 2024. More information is available at demnext.org/fr/cocap.

City Council to Vote on Pay Raise

The City’s Council Compensation Review Committee recommended a pay increase for the mayor and city councilors

By Julianna LaFollette

The Bend City Council will vote on compensation raises on May 1, as recommended by the Council Compensation Review Committee. Currently calculated from a percentage of the Area Median Income, the mayor makes $19,540 a year and City Councilors make $9,770 a year.

The recommended increase would adjust the mayor’s compensation to $50,000 a year and $30,000 for councilors. The nine-person committee met four times between October 2023 and January 2024. According to a City memo, the committee finalized its recommendation in January. A work session addressing the recommendation occurred on April 17. The compensation increase, if passed, would not go into effect until the next election cycle.

Since 2018, the Bend Municipal Code states that the City Council should appoint an advisory committee every five years, starting in 2023, to review and reevaluate compensation, and to make a recommendation that would be implemented after the next election cycle.

The committee is also responsible for reviewing and considering whether to recommend providing health care benefits or an alternative to council members.

It was directed to take a data-driven approach, taking into account demands placed on the mayor, the city’s budget and the fiscal climate of the region, such as cost of living, housing affordability and cost of child care.

The committee offered its rationale for the salary increase, which included encouraging broader diversity of individuals to serve on the City Council by reducing barriers to participation and making service more financially feasible, given that the current pay is relatively low.

When it comes to amount of time working, the increase would also account for the increasingly time-consuming and complex work that serving on the council requires, as Bend has grown, the report stated.

The committee also recommended better, more flexible health insurance coverage and $3,000 annually as a health and wellness stipend.

Pexels

Courtesy City of Bend

El Condado de Deschutes propone el próximo vertedero de basura

Por Julianna LaFollette

El 16 de abril, el comité Asesor de Desechos Sólidos del Condado de Deschutes elaboró su recomendación final sobre un nuevo vertedero de basura, eligiendo la locación de Moon Pit. El comité, que se ha estado reuniendo por casi dos años, se dió a la tarea de encontrar un nuevo lugar para el vertedero de basura en el Condado de Deschutes, ya que espera que el vertedero de Knott alcance su capacidad en 2029.

Después de comenzar con casi 200 sitios a principios de este proceso, el comité redujo la decisión a 2 locaciones: Moon Pit y Roth East, ambos localizados al este de los límites de la ciudad de Bend.

El comité evaluó las locaciones con base a parámetros que abarcan las proyecciones del costo, cuestiones ambientales, características del sitio y distancia de los centros de población, entre otros. También tomó en cuenta las

inquietudes y comentarios públicos, que giraban principalmente en torno a las probables molestias en las actividades recreativas y el impacto en la vida silvestre.

El sitio Moon Pit, que el comité eligió como recomendación final, tiene 440 acres y está zonificado para minería a cielo abierto. Según la evaluación final del sitio, Moon Pit ofrecía la ventaja de una infraestructura existente dado que ya incluía un camino de acceso, un ingreso, básculas y un pozo, reduciendo bastante el costo del desarrollo del sitio.

“El sitio Moon Pit es atrayente debido a que ya tiene la infraestructura, menor costo de transporte y un bajo nivel de impacto hacia las residencias y a la vida silvestre,” indicó en el reporte.

Para el sitio Moon Pit, se espera que los costos iniciales sean más altos, pero se espera que los costos de operación anuales sean más bajos.

De acuerdo con la evaluación, los

costos iniciales de desarrollo se valoran entre los $50 a $64 millones, lo que incluye $15.4 a $15.9 millones por la compra del terreno. Se estima que los costos anuales por operación cuesten $7.6 millones por año, lo que incluye $2.5 millones por año para el transporte de desechos. . Los costos de operación anuales del vertedero de basura de Knott Landfill en 2016 fueron de aproximadamente $6 millones.

El reporte indicaba que los costos iniciales por la compra inicial y desarrollo se refinanciarían con un contrato a 30 años a una tasa de interés del 4.75%. Se estima que el recibo de pago por los servicios de la recolección de basura aumentarán la cuota actual de $25 por mes a aproximadamente $29 por mes con Moon Pit.

Durante este proceso, el condado declaró que utilizó una variedad de métodos para informar a los habitantes sobre las posibles locaciones y

para obtener sus reacciones. Además de realizar una jornada a puerta abierta en septiembre, el condado se acercó a los propietarios, los vecinos y las tribus y habló con grupos comunitarios y agencias públicas, según la evaluación comunitaria de 2024. El condado planea continuar con la promoción a través de su página web, actualizaciones por correo electrónico y sesiones informativas.

Según Kim Katchur, Funcionario de Información Pública del Condado de Deschutes, el condado prevé tener en el sitio audiencias públicas en el mes de mayo y espera que la Mesa de Comisionados tome la iniciativa en junio.

Redefining Bend Cuisine

New restaurateurs contribute to Bend’s evolving scene

Bend is no stranger to great food and numerous dining options. In recent years, the city has seen the number of restaurants grow and the style and cuisine evolve, adding to Central Oregon’s increasingly diverse food scene.

Several new, modern and upscale restaurants that have opened in the area have impressed locals and restaurant owners alike. Many of them are run by successful chefs and restaurateurs who lived elsewhere and chose Bend as a place to bring their elevated dining experiences.

A few new restaurants fueling this movement include the upscale, trendy chef-owned restaurant, Dear Irene, widely loved steakhouse, Rancher Butcher Chef, high quality seafood restaurant, Hook and Plow, and highly anticipated American steakhouse, Hawkeye and Huckleberry.

From Elsewhere to Bend

It’s clear that Bend’s upscale dining scene has grown significantly in recent years, with big city, new-to-thearea chefs and restaurant owners choosing Bend as their next place to open a restaurant.

Celebrity chef Brian Malarkey is opening a new restaurant in June, Hawkeye and Huckleberry Lounge, in the former Walt Reilly’s building in Bend. Malarkey is a renowned chef and restaurateur who has created over 15 restaurant concepts.

Originally from Tumalo, Malarkey noticed other great restaurants popping up in Central Oregon and thought it was finally time to bring his expertise back to the area.

“What opened my eyes was I ate dinner at Rancher Butcher Chef, and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. Bend is ready,’” Malarkey said. He mentioned many other Bend favorites that paved the way for him, and other restaurateurs coming to Bend, such as fine-dining restaurant Ariana and Bosa, among others.

Lauren Copelan, one of the co-owners of Hook and Plow, moved to Bend in 2020 and brought her and her sister’s renowned seafood restaurant with them.

“We saw a need for a place like this in Bend, that

By Julianna LaFollette

“We love that there is an ever-evolving food scene and we are of the mindset that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ The more wonderful chefs and restaurants in our area, the better.”

— Ariana Fernandez

really focused on fresh seafood,” said Copelan. Bend had been on Copelan’s radar for many years, as her parents bought a home in Bend back in the ‘80s. “I spent my childhood, teenage years and adult years coming here, and so I've seen firsthand the massive changes that have happened in the community as a whole,” she said.

It wasn’t until the pandemic that they decided to move here and expand the established Hook and Plow restaurant brand, which has been running for 10 years and has three additional locations in California.

Bend didn’t really have a solid seafood restaurant yet, said Lauren. “It’s definitely gotten so much better, even in the last year or two.”

Copelan wasn’t the only one to make the move during the pandemic. Jonny and Irene Becklund, owners of downtown restaurant and bar Dear Irene, saw an opportunity and took it. With the restaurant scene completely shutting down during COVID in San Francisco, where Becklund’s previous restaurant was located, and their lease ending, “It was the perfect time to move and do something new. When we came here, everything just checked the boxes. We just kind of knew that opening something here would be exciting for us and would be exciting for the community,” Irene Becklund told the Source Weekly during interviews for our annual Restaurant Guide.

Similarly, John and Renee Gorham, who own Rancher Butcher Chef, made the switch around the same time. “It was just time for us to take advantage of a moment, like so many people did during COVID and

make a big life change, which was the best thing for our family,” said Renee Gorham.

Wanting to stay close to family in Portland, where they previously owned Toro Bravo and other restaurants, they found that Bend would be the perfect place to start fresh.

“I had been paying attention to the Bend food scene for a while. I saw it being very right to be a food city. It reminded me of Portland in 2007, when it just boomed,” John Gorham told the Source.

Thor Erickson is a culinary instructor at the Cascade Culinary Institute who has been in the food industry, and in Bend, for over 30 years. He saw the pandemic change a lot about the restaurant industry here in Bend.

“The pandemic unfortunately stopped some great local institutions. We lost some really great restaurants, but it was also the impetus for other chefs who were working at restaurants to open up new places and allowed people to make the choice to move here to open restaurants.”

The More the Merrier

As more restaurants come to the area, some new and established restaurants are increasingly optimistic about the changes. Some of the restaurant owners we talked to aren’t seeing these new restaurants as competition, but instead, as another great restaurant contributing to the growing food scene. “The way I look at the restaurant business, any competition is healthy competition,” said Erickson.

Courtesy Rancher Butcher Chef

Rancher Butcher Chef

“What opened my eyes was I ate dinner at Rancher Butcher Chef, and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. Bend is ready,’”

— Brian Malarkey

Copelan, who opened Hook and Plow in 2023, has been super excited to see an elevated food scene, noting an increase in fine dining, upscale dining options and cocktail lounges.

“We’ve got RBC, Dear Irene, BOSA is one of my favorite places, and we’ve got Hawkeye and Huckleberry going in. I truly believe that good business brings good business,” she said.

The way she sees it, the more high-quality restaurants in town, the more the community benefits as a whole. “Bringing in good restaurants brings in new

flavors and new people, and new people want to go out and try new things,” she said.

Many owners and chefs feel lucky to be a part of this scene and are hopeful for the new experiences and diversity that they will bring.

“I think it's great to see even more and more folks with an eye for culinary creativity and experience-driven restaurants have come to the area,” said James Meskill, one of the partners of Six Top Restaurant Group, which owns local restaurants including Bos Taurus and Nome, to name a few.

Erickson, with the Culinary Institute, sees this growth as not only great for the city and its residents, but an opportunity for chefs in the area as well. “I think it’s a healthy evolution,” he said. “Whether a person is a chef, server, bartender, pastry chef, line cook, etc., having new people from which to learn about new techniques, ingredients or a higher level of service allows us to tell new stories through food and hospitality,” said Erickson.

New types of dining, however, bring a different culture. While thrilled about the growing food scene, Erickson hopes to see changes in Bend when it

“There's always been great restaurants and I think it's fun to see the pioneers, if you will, get validation for what they've done for so many years. We're just happy and lucky to be a part of it ourselves.”

— James Meskill

comes to how people experience fine dining.

“Culture-wise, in terms of fine dining specifically, I think that we can learn to be better patrons,” said Erickson. “I respect it because I'm in the industry. I dress up, I wear nice clothes when I go out to eat,” Erickson said, noting the casual environment, and dress code, that many locals tend to follow no matter where they are dining.

“You go into Ariana and people are wearing pajamas and it's like, ‘really?’ These are special occasions that we should really relish and have a great amount of respect for not only the staff, but everyone else who's there,” he said.

An Ever-Evolving Scene

Whether they’ve come to Bend from a big city or are returning to Central Oregon, locals in the industry, both new and established, feel validated that the ever-evolving food scene is one that continues to attract people and restaurateurs.

According to Erickson, there’s always been a draw to Bend. “It's not a new thing, we just see a surge,” said Erickson. The style and evolving cuisine, however, is based on growth, he said. “It’s based on people moving here from other places who have a desire to eat in a different way, not just the status quo that was here a number of years before they came.”

Lauren Copelan at Hook and Plow has witnessed the changes over the years and sees this trend continuing. “We do have a lot of people moving to the area and diversifying the types of food that we have in Bend. I think we'll keep on that trajectory as more people come to the area and want different types of food and different styles of food,” she said.

Ariana Restaurant, a local fine-dining favorite, has been around long enough to witness Bend’s food culture explode. Owners Ariana and Andres Fernandez, who have been working in the industry since 2000 and 2001, respectively, opened Ariana in 2004 and will be celebrating the 20th anniversary this December. “We have definitely seen the food scene evolve in Bend,” said Ariana Fernandez.

“We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful special place and it draws people from all over the world to live and work here. We love that there is an ever-evolving food scene and we are of the mindset that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ The more wonderful chefs and restaurants in our area, the better.”

In a fast-growing city like Bend, change is inevitable. Meskill credits those who paved the way for this current trajectory.

“There's always been great restaurants and I think it's fun to see the pioneers, if you will, get validation for what they've done for so many years,” said Meskill. “We're just happy and lucky to be a part of it ourselves.”

Photo courtesy Hook and Plow Bend

Hook and Plow

Dear Irene

Julianna LaFollette

june 8, 2024 redmond, or

SOURCE PICKS

WEDNESDAY 4/24

BEYOND THE LAMPLIGHT & BILLY & THE BOX KID

HIGH ENERGY PERFORMANCE

Known for high energy performances and up-beat tunes, Beyond the Lamplight has captivated audiences with its blend of styles encompassing equal parts folk, punk, rock and a touch of jazz. Enjoy a night of music in the high desert with a roaring live show from Beyond The Lamplight and Billy & The Box Kid. Wed., Apr. 24, 7-10pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $12

THURSDAY 4/25

SUTTLE LODGE’S FIRESIDE CONCERT SERIES: SPENCER MARLYN FIRESIDE SHOW FIRESIDE LIVE MUSIC

An evening filled with acoustic tunes and a roaring fire all inside of a cozy lodge. Spencer Marlyn, known for his acoustic songs, will play some live music as part of the Suttle Lodge Fireside Concert Series. Come by for the evening or claim complimentary seats if you are a guest staying at the lodge. Thu., Apr. 25, 6-8pm at Suttle Lodge & Boathouse. 13300 U.S. 20 Sisters. $10

FRIDAY 4/26

SMALL POOLS AND GRAYSCALE

THE NIGHTSHIFT TOUR

Indie-rock group Smallpools, known for its popular hit song, “Dreaming,” performs at the Domino Room along with opening act, Grayscale, as part of “The Night Shift Tour.” It’ll be a night filled with sound that blends the best of both Nashville influence and Los Angeles sound. Fri., Apr. 26, 7pm at Domino Room. 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $25.

FRIDAY 4/26

SUNSET MARKET & MUSIC

BEERS, VENDORS AND TUNES

Enjoy live music and local vendors at the Sunset Market and Music happening at Worthy Brewing on the east side. Live Strive Roots and The Rusty Frets play on the Drink up and Dream on Stage! This is a free event for all to enjoy. Fri., Apr. 26, 4-7pm at Worthy Brewing East Side. 495 NE Bellevue Dr. Free.

FRIDAY 04/26

MAGICAL MYSTERY BEATLEMANIA

The iconic Beatles cover band, Magical Mystery Four, featuring Karl Lindgren, Andy Jacobs, Graham Boostrom and Paul Eddy, is coming to perform at Silver Moon Brewing. Come join in on the fun listening to all of the Beatles hits, and party on, Jude! Fri., Apr. 26, 8-10pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $10.

SATURDAY 4/27

THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS

AMERICAN BLUES AND R&B

Hailing from Oakland, California, American blues and R&B band, The California Honeydrops, performs in beautiful Bend as a part of its Spring 2024 Tour. Snag your ticket to see this electrifying group live Sat., Apr. 27, 8pm. Midtown Ballroom. 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $35.

SATURDAY 4/27

SPRING MAKERS MARKET

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES

Come support a variety of local small businesses at Immersion Brewing’s Spring Makers Market! Raffles, live music, a photo bus and more at the brewery-wide event. All proceeds to benefit Street Dog Hero. Sat., Apr. 27, 3-7pm at the Immersion Brewing. 550 SW Industrial Way #185., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 04/27

GUIDED FOREST BATH AT SHEVLIN PARK

FOREST BATHING EXPERIENCE

Deeply connect to nature and fuel your soul with this one-hour forest bathing experience guided by Missie Wikler at Shevlin Park. Wikler is a local Certified Forest Therapy Guide that will lead you through a practice of immersing yourself in the forest atmosphere. Sat., Apr. 27, 2-3pm at Shevlin Park. 18920 Shevlin Rd., Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 04/28

GARDEN FAIR

ALL ABOUT GARDENING

The Deschutes Public Library hosts a Garden Fair at the Sisters Firehouse Community Hall. Come learn from experts all about how to help pollinators, roll up seed bombs, compost and how to grow vegetables in the Central Oregon climate. Create paints from your garden and so much more at this fun, free event. Apr. 28, 11am – 1pm at Sisters Firehouse Community Hall. 301 S Elm St. Sisters. Free.

Paul Eddy Music

Laurel W

Egan Entertainment

Ticketmaster

Neil

HUMANE SOCIETY OF CENTRAL OREGON

Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 5:30pm Riverhouse on the Deschutes Convention Center Presented by:

24 Wednesday

Blacksmith Public House Head Games

Trivia At The Blacksmith! Join Blacksmith Public Houses for a fun night of trivia hosted by Head Games Trivia! Put your thinking caps on every Wednesday night and bring a team of your smartest friends. 6-8pm. 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 some local musicians jam out. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Cottage Sufi Song Circle Come and experience the serene ambiance of Sufi Circle at Cottage 33 AKA Soul Lounge, where hearts connect and spirits soar. Embrace the timeless teachings of Sufism through music, poetry, and contemplation by Shiv, Fitz and Adam. What to Expect: Live Sufi Music, Poetry Recitations, Spiritual Discourse and Open Heart Conversations 6-8pm. $15-$30.

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 Sidney Joseph Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music every Wednesday from 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.

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

Northside Bar & Grill 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.Free.

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.

Silver Moon Brewing Pain Without End, Cartilage, Dripping Decay, Event Relentless, Veriteras, Idolatrous and Gravewitch Pain Without End from Bend and Cartilage from San Francisco. Dripping Decay from Portland and Event Relentless from Finland. Veriteras from Seattleand Idolatrous from Portland, with Gravewitch from Bend. 5-10pm $20.

The Bite Live Music with Erin Cole-Baker Singer Songwriter Erin Cole-Baker will play her original songs and a few covers on electric and acoustic guitar. 6-8pm. 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.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Jerry’s Middle Finger It’s no longer a secret that California-based band Jerry’s Middle Finger delivers and celebrates the music of Jerry Garcia with unparalleled sound and energy. Doors 7pm. $20.

Idaho born and raised singer/songwriter Aaron Golay is loud, yet tender, and engaging in live performances is what stands out with the artist.The artist blends together Americana with strong notes of rock and soul. Thu., May 2, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

25 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.

The Belfry SFF Presents Willy Porter at The Belfry Willy Porter continues on a musical and personal odyssey spanning more than two decades and 13 albums. His live shows are electrifying with guitar-driven grit, soul, silence and muscle. This is a general admission, all ages show. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm. Beverages available for purchase. $27.50 for adults and $15 for youth. 6-8:30pm.

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

Blacksmith Public House Karaoke at the Blacksmith! Come join after work for a fun night of Karaoke with DJ Chris at Blacksmith Public House! Grab a drink, sing a song, have some tasty food, and unwind with us after a long day. 6-8pm. Free.

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. 6:30-8:30pm.

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 Trivia is every Thursday night! Located at the north end of Redmond. Full bar and great food! 6-8pm.Free.

Eqwine Wine Bar Open Mic Got a musical bone you’d like to share? Come to open mic night at Eqwine every Thursday at 7pm. Your first beer/cider is on the house if you take the stage. 7-9pm. Free.

Hola! Downtown La Rumba - Latin Dance Party A night of Latin music, dancing, delicious food and drinks at HOLA! Downtown. DJ Solo spinning the best in tropical beats including salsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue and more. 7:30pm - Dance lesson. 8-11pm - Music and dancing! No cover, more info at https://www. latindancebend.com/events 7:30-11pm.

River’s Place Blackstrap Bluegrass Hard driving bluegrass with catchy originals that give a nod to the roots of Americana music, Cosmic twang and Jamgrass. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Trivia on the Moon

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

Sisters Depot The Quons Trio at Sisters Depot/Frankie’s Upstairs Songwriters Linda and Mark Quon accompanied by John Allen. With guitars, harmonium, bass, and vocal harmonies, the songs by The Quons Trio tell stories and speak of reflection, love, loss, and social issues. Will be located at Frankie’s Upstairs. Please call Sisters Depot at 541-904-4660 to make dinner reservations before the show. 7-9pm. $20.

SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Suttle Lodge’s Fireside Concert Series: Meagan Sky Fireside Show This week, soul singer and poetically vulnerable songwriter Meagan Sky will share her music. Meagan is on a mission to shed light on the journey of self-love through music, events and self-help tools that inspire fans to honor their inner calling and be their most authentic selves. RSVP required for overnight lodging guests to claim complimentary seats. 6-8pm.

Stihl Whiskey Bar Live Music Series Live Music every Thursday at a favorite little corner of downtown Bend. Come through for good music, delicious food tasty drinks! 7-9pm.

The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room Trivia Night Tease your brain and win cool prizes. Happy Hour menu will be offered during game time. Grab your friends and enjoy an evening of fabulous wines, snacks and fun! Every last Thursday of the month. Arrive early, game starts at 6pm. Last Thursday of every month, 6-9pm. Free.

The Capitol Open Decks: 10 Live DJs 10 live DJs. Open format. 30-minute sets. Hosted by “Its Fine” & SoMuchHouse at The Capitol in Downtown Bend. Fourth Thursday of every month, 8pm-1am. $5.

The Lot Live Music with Tony Buckman Tony Buckman is an authentic cowboy, exceedingly polite, magnanimous, gritty and tough. Buckman has lived a cowboy’s life and his unique life experiences resonate in his music. Country music isn’t a Nashville theoretical, it’s a part of his soul. 6-8pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Out Of Thin AirImprov Comedy Night Come join this interactive, unscripted comedy and creativity from one of Bend’s own Incredibly Talented Improv Troupes, Out Of Thin Air Improv Theater Company!

Authentic and hilarious Improvisational Theater based on audience suggestions, with a sprinkling of comedy sketches. 7-10pm.

26

Friday

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.

Black Butte Ranch Tom Bergeron with Duo Violão Plus One and Rosi Bergeron Central Oregon saxophonist Tom Bergeron teams up with two virtuoso acoustic 7-string guitarists from Rio de Janeiro — Rogerio Souza & Edinho Gerber — plus Oakland percussionist Ami Molinelli and Brazilian singer Rosi Bergeron. The group will play traditional and modern samba and choro. Black Butte Ranch Event Room. 7-9pm. $30.

Blacksmith Public House Soul Benders

Live Music Help give a warm welcome to the Soul Benders performing LIVE at Blacksmith Public House for the first time! This rock ‘n soul band will keep the party going all night with its blend of R & B, rock ‘n roll, and more! 6:30-9:30pm. Free.

The Domino Room Smallpools and Grayscale Los Angeles rock band Smallpools is a pop band courageously blending the best of Nashville influence and Los Angeles sound. 7pm. $25.

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.

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 admission.

Ponch’s Place Live music with Erin Cole-Baker Local singer/songwriter Erin Cole-Baker will play her original songs and a few covers on electric and acoustic guitar. 5-7pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Magical Mystery Four MM4 is a Beatles cover band featuring Karl Lindgren, Andy Jacobs, Graham Boostrom, and Paul Eddy. All the hits, all the fun, and all you need is love. Party on, Jude! 8-10pm. $10.

Courtesy of Aaron Golay

CALENDAR

Volcanic Theatre Pub Life During Wartime and Hiding From love Life During Wartime, a Talking Heads tribute, is an eclectic band with a common love for the pop-punk of one of the most acclaimed post-punk-era bands. Hiding From Love offers the Depeche Mode experience is an electrifying Portland-based band known for unwavering dedication to capturing the essence of icons. 7-11:59pm. $25.

Worthy Brewing Sunset Market and Music The inaugural Sunset Market and Music! Worthy Brewing East Side will feature local vendors. Live music from Strive Roots and The Rusty Frets on the Drink up and Dream on Stage! This is a free for all event! 4-8pm. Free.

27 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.

Blacksmith Public House Cornhole Tournament at the Blacksmith! Cornhole is back! Join Blacksmith Public House once a month for a fun, free corn hole tournament outside at Blacksmith Public House! Space is limited so please text Jane to register at 541-990-9878. 11am-1pm. Free.

Blacksmith Public House Countryfied

Live at The Blacksmith We’re celebrating our 1st year in business with a great April lineup, including the local legends Countryfied! Come join for an insanely fun night of great music and dancing. All ages are welcome. 6:30-9:30pm. Free.

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

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Story

Time with Steve and Friends Comedy Show Come out for a fun, funny Saturday night and listen to stories about losing your virginity. A perfect date night, hearing local comedians share life experiences and spilling the beans on themselves. Let comics be embarrassed for you while you laugh in their faces.Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm. 21+ strong content expected. 8-9:30pm.

Crux Fermentation Project Sweet Motor at Crux Fermentation Project This Central Oregon five-piece band, offers up a blend of Southern rock/rhythm & blues. Sweet Motor creates soulful and tasteful original compositions as well as carefully selected and re-invented cover songs. A rockin’ sound that any music fan will appreciate and enjoy! 6-8pm. Free.

Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards and Events D.C. Commissioner Candidate Rob Imhoff with live music from Station Camp This is a fundraising event for Rob Imhoff, who is running for Deschutes County Commissioner Position #2. Following Rob’s speech, Station Camp will perform some of your favorite dance hits. 100 raffle tickets sold at $50 each for a donated rifle -browning x bolt IVOX 7mm PRC. 6-9pm. $25. M&J Tavern Them-N-J Come celebrate spring in full swing, Them-N-J comes along to serenade the evening. Good times are guaranteed. Noon. Free.

Midtown Ballroom The California Honeydrops Midtown Events and Parallel 44 Presents bring The California Honeydrops on Sat., April 27 at Midtown Ballroom in Bend! Doors 7pm, show 8pm. This is an all ages show. 8pm. $35.

Northside Bar & Grill

Long Gone Wilder A great night of rock ‘n’ roll. 8-11pm. Free. On Tap Conner Bennett and Garrett Miller Conner Bennett and Garrett Miller performs at On Tap on April 27. Come out and enjoy some great food, beverages and free live music. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Tom Bergeron with Duo Violão Plus and Rosi Bergeron Central Oregon saxophonist Tom Bergeron teams up with two virtuoso acoustic 7-string guitarists from Rio de Janeiro — Rogerio Souza and Edinho Gerber — plus Oakland CA percussionist Ami Molinelli and Brazilian singer Rosi Bergeron. The group will play traditional and modern samba and choro. 6-8pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub 2024! HUMP Film Festival (21+) HUMP! is a lovingly curated festival of short erotic films made by real people for real people. The filmmakers and stars show us hot and sexy, creative and kinky, ultimate turnons and craziest fantasies. 7-11:30pm. $15.

28 Sunday

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

Cascade Lakes at 7th Street Live Music with Oyster Lee Grab a beer and join for live music with Oyster Lee on the pavilion at the Pub at 7th Street. Music starts at 5:30pm, free and family-friendly. 5:30-7:30pm. Free.

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.

Pretty Pussycat Babes in Toyland! The Bachelorette party you never had! The Bend Boarding Babes are partnering with The Pretty Pussy Cat to give you the bachelorette party you never had! Come let loose, make some new friends, enjoy snacks, mimosas, drinks and all sorts of other shenanigans! Treats,Toys & No Boys! 10am-Noon. Free.

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

River’s Place Bobby Lindstrom Duo Soul-inspiring blues and rock. 5-7pm. 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.

29 Monday

Bevel Craft Brewing Disney Classics Trivia

A nostalgia-filled trivia night! Five rounds, five questions each. Form a team of six, craft a witty name, and win Bevel gift card prizes. Don’t miss out! 6-8pm. Free.

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. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm.

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.

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.

High Desert Music Hall Trivia Night:

Rotating Mondays

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

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

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

Silver Moon Brewing Comedy Open Mic

Comedy open mic every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing in the Green Room. Sign-ups at 6:30pm. Presented by Tease Bang Boom Productions. 7-8:30pm. Free.

The 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.

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.

30 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 Clubs 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.

Cabin 22 Tequila Taco Tunes-Day West Side

Open Mic Night collects local musical talent, paired with $6 House Altos Margaritas & famous pork verde tacos and hosted by Bend’s beloved Eric Leadbetter. Free.

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.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Head Games

Trivia Night

Live multi-media trivia every other Tuesday at Crosscut Warming Hut No. 5, Bend. Free to play, win prizes, teams up to 6. Please arrive early for best seats. Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

High Desert Music Hall Game Night

with Modern Games at High Desert Music Hall

Explore fun, new, garden-themed games with Modern Games! Come learn some new board games with your friends from Modern Games! A selection of our favorites and staff ready to teach you how to dive into your next favorite game. Food and drinks available for purchase on site! 6-7:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ

Chris Ossig Karaoke with DJ Chris. 7-9pm. Free. The Lot Trivia Tuesday Heated benches, frothy pints, food cart goodness and the brain flexing sport of trivia! Bring a team or join one and have fun with the trivia-loving, smartypants people of Bend. 6-8pm. Free.

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

Big Daddy Weave Live in Bend

The Heaven Changes Everything Tour with Big Daddy Weave, Austin French, and Hannah Kerr is coming live at Church of the Cascades! An unforgettable night of inspiration and joy featuring your favorite songs! April 26, 7-10pm. Church of the Cascades, 21720 US-20, Bend.

Last Saturday Art Walk Last Saturday Art Walk at the Old Bend Iron Works from 9-5 pm. Afternoon jazz on the patio at Café des Chutes featuring a monthly residency with the Michelle Van Handel Jazz Trio starting at 2:30pm. Featuring artist pop-ups! Art happenings at all neighboring shops! Sales and more! Last Saturday of every month, 9am-5pm. Through Sept. 28. The Old Iron Works, 50 SE Scott St., Bend. Contact: 541-6686114. theworkhousebend@gmail.com. Free.

Emerging out of Austin, Texas, Zach Person, an American recording artist, is the new face of indie rock. Person connects with his music fans on a primal sonic level through his loud and raw music. Tue., May 7, 8pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesy Zach Person Facebook

CALENDAR EVENTS

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

DANCE

Argentine Tango Classes and Dance

Join every Wednesday for Tango classes and dancing! Your first class is free. Tango 101 Class from 6:30-7pm, no partner needed! All levels class from 7-8pm. Open dancing from 8-9:30pm. Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-7283234. tangocentraloregon@gmail.com. $5-$10.

Bend Dance Project Adult Community

Drop-in Class

Join nonprofit Bend Dance Project for an adult intermediate level drop-in dance class. Styles include classic jazz, street jazz, modern and lyrical. Teachers and styles rotate monthly. Supportive and welcoming atmosphere! Suggested donation $10. Fridays, 12:15-1:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-7281063. dancevelocity@live.com. $10.

Bend Dance Project Adult Drop-in Dance Class

Join Bend Dance Project for weekly adult intermediate level drop-in class. Rotating teachers and styles include contemporary, street jazz, modern and theater dance. Friendly supportive atmosphere. Fridays, 12:151:45pm. Academia De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-541-728-1063. dancevelocity@live.com. $10 donation..

Line Dance Lessons at The Blacksmith Public House! Join Blacksmith Public House for our first line dance lessons of the year! Bring your honey, your besties, your mama, your grandpa, your neighbor, or even your dog to these fun free lessons! Tuesdays, 7-8pm. Through May 28. Blacksmith Public House, 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-6048878. Free.

Scottish Country Dance A chance to socialize and get a bit of exercise, too. Beginners are welcome. All footwork, figures and social graces will be taught and reviewed. Mondays, 7-9pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-508-9110. allely@ bendbroadband.com. $5.

Sexy West Coast Swing! Luscious, connected and playful, danced to music you listen to. The 4-week series is Tuesdays starting April 2, $60/person. No partner necessary. 6:30pm Beginning, 8pm Beginning Plus. Register by 3/31 w Victoria. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm. Through April 30. Bend Dance, SW Porcupine Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-410-0048. salsavictoria@yahoo. com. $60.

Soul in Motion Movement & Dance

Come move with what is moving in you, in community, putting a little more life in your life!! No experience necessary... guided and facilitated to support you to sink down from the chatter of your mind and into your body... inviting it take the lead. Mindful movement and dance... drop in. Wednesdays, 6-7:15pm. Continuum, A School of Shadow Yoga, 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 112, Bend. Contact: 541-948-7015. soulinmotionbend@gmail.com. $20.

Sun-Kissed Salsa! Sun’s out, grab a margarita and let’s Salsa! Three levels of classes for newbies to experienced dancers, classes are 4-week series starting first Wednesday every month. 6pm beginning, 7:15pm beginning plus, 8:30pm intermediate. No partner needed, $60/ month, register by Mar., 31 with Victoria 541-4100048. Wednesdays, 6-7pm. Through April 24. Bend Dance, SW Porcupine Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-410-0048. salsavictoria@yahoo.com. $60.

Temple Tribal Fusion Dance Yoga, fitness, dance drills, choreography to expand your movement language and build strength, grace, agility, confidence. full of belly dance, indian lassical accents, funky fantastic workout, beautiful community and much more! Wednesdays, 5-6:15pm. Includes Tribal Belly Dance, traditional sacred dances, yoga, fitness, dance drills, choreography to expand your movement language and build strength, grace, agility, confidence in a heart-centered, world-class learning environment. Join for fun, a great workout, or perform in the dance company. Mixed level classes give something for everyone, from newbies to advanced dancers. All levels warmly welcomed! Learn more at http://www.templetribalfusion. com/dance-bend Mondays, 5-6:15pm. Bend, RSVP for address, Bend. $20.

FILM EVENTS

SPROUT Film Festival Celebrate the ID/D community with an afternoon/evening of film. The Tower Theatre, Full Access and CODSN present the Sprout Film Festival, a series of short films to highlight creatives from the ID/D community. April 30, 10am-Noon and 7-9pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $6 (plus $4 Historic Preservation fee).

ARTS + CRAFTS

2024 Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour

This is a free, self-guided tour of artist studios and work spaces located throughout the Mid-Columbia Gorge region. To see what’s in store for this year, follow us on social media @gorgeartists. Fri, April 26, 10am-5pm, Sat, April 27, 10am5pm and Sun, April 28, 10am-5pm. Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour, Artists studios throughout the Gorge, Hood River. Free.

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

“Deep Impressions/Perfect Print/ Wonderful Feeling” - Letterpress prints from Green Bird Press and Quail Lane Press “Deep Impressions / Perfect Print / Wonderful Feeling” - Letterpress prints from Green Bird Press and Quail Lane Press. For more information, please visit www. makinitlocal.com @makinitlocal, @greenbirdpress, and @quaillanepress Fri, April 26, 4-7pm, Sat, April 27, Sun, April 28, Mon, April 29, Tue, April 30. Makin’ It Local, 281 W Cascade Avenue, Sisters. Contact: 541-904-4722. Free.

Crochet Corner: Fancywork Yarn Shop

Gather with fellow crocheters for an afternoon of crafting, learning and inspiration! Founder and lead educator of the American Crochet Association, Salena Baca, hosts this 2-hour hook session held at Fancywork Yarn Shop. All skill levels are welcome in this weekly drop-in event. Thursdays, 1-3pm. Fancywork Yarn Shop, 200 NE Greenwood Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-3238686. hello@fancywork.com. Free.

Fused Glass 101 - Slumping Make a 6”

Dish Learn the basics of slumping glass using colorful glass and a variety of tools. Glass fusing is the process of joining compatible sheet glasses together in a kiln until the glass fuses at approximately 1,490 degrees Fahrenheit. It grants you the power to create colorful, dynamic works of glass art April 27, 1-4pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $149.

Ikebana: Traditional Japanese Art of Flower Arranging

Create unique and beautiful Japanese Ikebana floral arrangements using techniques established over centuries. Historical, cultural and spiritual aspects of the practice accompany hands-on learning. After each meeting, students may take arrangements home. Locally sourced floral materials provided and are included in the price. Sun, April 14, 1-3pm, Sun, April 21, 1-3pm, Sun, April 28, 1-3pm and Sun, May 5, 1-3pm. Boyle Education Center, COCC, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 805-886-0542. geriservi@gmail.com. $199.

Intro to Soldering Silver Stacked Rings

This fun and creative class introduces you to the basics of soldering and the art of creating beautiful sterling silver rings. Use a torch for soldering and learn how to size, shape and texture your rings using a ring mandrel, sizer and various texture hammers. Take home 3 rings! April 29, 6-8pm. DIY

Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $129.

Kids Lego Robotics (ages 10+)

In this intro workshop, build and program robots using LEGO’s® educational SPIKE app kits. By workshop’s end, students will have a solid foundation in LEGO robotics and be able to create, modify and control their own robotic creations. Computers and robots provided for workshop’s duration. April 24, 4-5:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $76.

Kids Woodworking (ages 11-17)

In this two-day workshop, kids will focus on design, measurement, and layout techniques while gaining experience with power tools such as the miter saw, drill press, palm and drum sanders, router and various hand tools. Beginners and intermediate beginners are welcome and will progress in skill level. April 30, 4-6pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $208.

Learn How to MIG Weld

This hands-on class is perfect for beginners or anyone needing a refresher class in cutting and welding. 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! All materials and tools included. April 30, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $139.

Originally from Berryville, Arkansas, Anna Moss has a voice that will stop you dead in your tracks. Her voice quality is unique with a smokey, gritty and dynamic nature to her singing. Fri., May 10 7:30pm at The Belfry.

Courtesy Anna Moss Facebook

SUMMER CAMPS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING K-5

MONDAY - THURSDAY, 9 AM - 12 PM

JUNE 24 - JUNE 27

Basketball Camp

MONDAY - FRIDAY, 9 AM - 3 PM

JULY 8 - JULY 12

Wild Explorers

JULY 15 - JULY 19

Down on the Farm

JULY 22 - JULY 26

Threads and Shreds

JULY 29 - AUGUST 2

Art Among the Trees

AUGUST 5 - AUGUST 9

Time Trek Theater

AUGUST 12 - AUGUST 16

Wizard Camp

19860 Tumalo Reservoir Road, Bend, OR cascadesacademy.org/community/camp-create 541.382.0699 | info@cascadesacademy.org

RAISING EMPOWERED ATHLETES

Learn Stained Glass - Copper Foil Technique In the first class, learn about glass types, how to score and break glass for complex pattern designs, grinding the finish shape, and applying copper foil. During the second class, solder, patina and hang your sun-catcher. Predetermined patterns for your project provided. Sun, April 21, 2-4pm and Sun, April 28, 2-4pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $259.

Make Your Own Tin Wallet

Make Your Own Tin Wallet at The Underground Book Gallery in Downtown Bend! All materials provided to create and customize your own accessory. Stop in to reserve a spot or on Eventbrite. BYOB or grab a drink and snack from The Cellar Pub next door! April 30, 5-7pm. Underground Book Gallery, 206 NW Oregon Ave. Unit A, Bend. Contact: 970-4097315. undergroundbookgallery@gmail.com. $20.

SAA Friday Artwalk in Sisters Map, galleries and more details at https://www. sistersartsassociation.org/4th-friday-artwalks @SistersArtsAssociation Visit the Art Galleries of Sisters featuring: A great time, beautiful art, good company, demonstrations, plus additional sponsoring restaurants and food venues fourth Friday of every month, 10am-7pm. Through Dec. 27. Downtown Sisters, Hood Avenue., Sisters. Contact: 541-719-8581. events@sistersartsassociation.org. Free.

Spring Arts and Crafts Show In time for Mother’s Day! Find one of a kind unique gifts from local artists and crafters. Get something for that someone special in your life or a treat for yourself! From home decor to personal items and everything inbetween, we have you covered! Can’t wait to see you there! April 27, 9am-4pm. Redmond Grange Hall, 707 SW Kalama., Redmond. Contact: 541-306-0234. roberthbelljr@msn.com. Free.

Stained Glass Flowers for Mother’s Day Looking for a fun activity to do with your mother for Mother’s Day? Come make a stainedglass of stained-glass flowers together! Capture the beauty and joy that a bouquet of flowers can bring in a timeless and everlasting form. You will create and take home a stunning glass flower arrangement. Tue, April 30, 5:30-8:30pm and Sat, May 4, Noon-3pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $239.

Welding 101 - Structural Foundations

- Make a Table Base Concentrate on honing fabrication skills including table design, layout, jigs, weld prep, welding technique, minimizing distortion and weld finishing. Each student will build a side table. The course includes 2 hours of metal shop lab time in between classes to practice the techniques learned. Wed, April 17, 6-8pm and Wed, April 24, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-3882283. classes@diycave.com. $299.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

Art, Social Justice and the Radical Imaginary with Favianna Rodriguez

Join artist Favianna Rodriguez as she discusses how art can inspire, educate and help spur the imagination beyond what politics can do. Rodriguez believes culture change precedes political change, and building vibrant cultural movements that catalyzes social justice, inspire new ways of thinking and foster cultural equity. $10 in-person, $5 link to recording. April 30, 6:30-8pm. Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus, Bend, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7257. cgilbride@cocc.edu.

Bend Ghost Tours

Join for Ghosts and Legends of Downtown Bend Tour and hear all about Bend’s permanent residents! Your spirit guide will lead you through the haunted streets and alleyways of Historic Downtown Bend where you’ll learn about the city’s many macabre tales, long-buried secrets and famous ghosts. Wednesdays-Sundays, 7:30-9pm. Downtown Bend, Downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: 541-3500732. bendghosttours@gmail.com. $25.

Contemporary Realist David Kreitzer

Open Home Gallery and Studio

Join contemporary realist painter David Kreitzer, celebrating his 58 years as a professional artist, in an open studio and gallery exhibit of Central Oregon landscape splendor, California “Nishigoi” koi images and more. Kreitzer began his career at Maxwell Galleries in San Francisco. Fridays-Sundays, 1-6pm. Through April 28. Kreitzer Art Gallery and Studio, 20214 Archie Briggs Road, Bend. Contact: 805-234-2048. jkreitze@icloud. com. Free.

THEATER

Beauty and the Beast

The beloved musical will captivate audiences with its enchanting story, breathtaking performances, and dazzling production at the Mountain View High School Auditorium. Limited Tickets are available and can be purchased online or cash/check at the door. Fridays-Saturdays, 7:30pm and Sundays, 2pm. Through May 5. Mountain View High School Auditorium, 2755 NE 27th St., Bend. Contact: 541389-5927. amy.james@bend.k12.or.us. $11-$16.

WORDS

“Imagine and Empower” an Evening with COCC Student and Alumni Poets COCC is proud to host student and alumni poets Aaron Rasheed, Londale Dhesi, Ivy Sotelo, Sloan Cassidy and Ama Garza. Bola Gbadebo, multimedia journalist and Sunrise co-anchor at NewsChannel 21 and poet, will moderate the Q&A with the poets. April 25, 5-7pm. Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7560. refdesk@ cocc.edu. Free.

“Moon Coastal Oregon” by Matt Wastradowski Flexible itineraries, including a weeklong road trip to experience the best of the Oregon Coast The top outdoor adventures: Go tidepooling, watch for migrating whales, and see hundreds of sea lions. April 25, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. $5.

Independent Bookstore Day! Help celebrate IBD and join with Spirit Week Shenanigans! First 60 customers to spend $50 can purchase an exclusive IBD tote for $15, filled with fabulous free books and gifts! Free giveaways, free popcorn all day. April 27, 10am-5pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com.

Mystery Book Club Please join in-store or on zoom for Mystery Book Club. The group will discuss The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers. Join zoom link here: https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/87648931984?pwd=eHN4VjRIOVkyck5DL092OE9Nakd2QT09. Wednesdays, 10:30am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Quiet Writing

Enjoy the focus of a quiet space with the benefit of others’ company. Bring personal work, read a book, or answer emails. Come when you can, leave when you want. Free, open network WiFi available. Mondays, 9-10:30am. Deschutes Downtown Bend Public Library - Meyer Room, 601 N.W. Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.

Rediscovered Reads Book Club Please join Rediscovered Reads Book Club to discuss “What Makes Sammy Run?” by Budd Schulberg. April 24, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Simon and Schuster Author-fest

Authors Jackie Lau, TJ Alexander and Kaliane Bradley in conversation, moderated by bestselling authors Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings). April 24, 4-5pm. Online Event, Webinar Link Inside Confirmation Email, Bend. Contact: 5413066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com.

Storyteller Extraordinaire William

Kennedy Hornyak “Irish Tales from the Hedgerows” A spellbinding storytelling performance of Irish history, mythology, poetry and song in honor of the hedgerow teachers who preserved the Celtic soul and spirit during the brutal era of the Penal Codes 1695-1771. Not to be missed! $15 at the door. April 28, 6-8pm. Barrel Room @ Immersion Brewing, (no address), (no city). Contact: 503-697-5808. hornyak.will@gmail.com.

ETC.

Diva Drag Brunch The biggest Drag Brunch in the Pacific Northwest is taking over the Campfire Hotel on Saturday, Apr. 27! Diva Drag Brunch features Jayla Rose, Riley Burrows, Sandria Dore, Boujee Cherry, and hosted by Lylac. Come spend the afternoon and let the Queens perform your worries away! April 27, 11am-2pm. Campfire Hotel, 721 Northeast 3rd Street, Bend. Contact: 503-706-2335. justinbucklesproductions@gmail.com. $25.

Peking Acrobats For 3 decades, this troupe has redefined Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs and display their technical prowess at trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting and jaw-dropping gymnastics. April 28, 3pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-3170700. info@towertheatre.org. $41-$61.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

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

Bow-Making Workshop: Board Bows

This 2-day workshop for adults, make a hickory board bow, backed with snake skin. The days will involve learning about different bow types, tapering, tillering, rasping, making bow strings and backing. See site for details. April 27, 9am-4pm and April 28, 9am-4pm. Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, 65920 61st St, Bend. Contact: info@ nighthawknaturalistschool.com. $300.

The Circuit BIPOC Climbing Night

Join the Circuit Rock gym the last Thursday every month for an event that welcomes all in the BIPOC community. Last Thursday of every month. The Circuit Bouldering Gym Bend, 63051 NE Corporate Pl, Bend. 50% off day pass.

Redmond Running Group Run All levels welcome. Find the Redmond Oregon Running Klub on Facebook for weekly run details. Thursdays, 6:15pm. City of Redmond, Redmond, Or., Redmond. Contact: rundanorun1985@gmail. com.

Snowmobiles at Elk Lake Resort

At your front door hundreds of miles of trails await that wind through several designated wilderness areas and national forests. Please note: Guests renting snowmobile from Elk Lake Resort must pay $60 per guest roundtrip transportation fee in addition to rental rates, as we are not allowed to rent from Dutchman Flats SnoPark. Drivers must be at least 18 years old with a valid Driver’s License in hand. All passengers must be at least six years old and have the ability to hold on and ride safely. Helmets, goggles and fuel are included with each rental. There is a non-refundable damage waiver fee of $25 per sled added to each reservation. Brand new 2024 Polaris Snowmobiles have been added to the rental fleet this winter season.

Embark on a winter adventure on a Polaris 650 Switchback XC 146, single and tandem models. Thursdays-Sundays. Elk Lake Resort Lodge Bar & Restaurant, 60000 SW Century Dr., Bend.

VOLUNTEER

All Out for Palestine! Join Central Oregon for a Free Palestine (COFP) protest to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Gaza’s death toll tops 34,000 as the U.S. is poised to approve $14 billion in military aid for Israel. Relentless airstrikes, forced displacement, and total devastation in Gaza are leading to mass starvation. April 27, Noon-2pm. Peace Corner, Corner of NW Greenwood Avenue and NW Wall Street, Bend. Contact: centraloregon4afreepalestine@gmail.com. Free.

Camp Fire Recruiting Summer Camp

Interns Are you 18+ years old, currently enrolled in college, and interested in building leadership skills around working with youth, education, the environment, and/or STEM? Camp Fire Central Oregon is hiring interns for inclusive, supportive summer camp programs! Learn more, explore the perks: https://campfireco.org/jobs/ Wednesdays-Sundays. Through April 30. Contact: 541-382-4682. jobs@campfireco.org.

Dog Adoption Event Hosted by Amazing Dogs Rescue Dog adoption event at PetSmart hosted by amazing dogs rescue. Check out adoptable dogs online at amazingdogs.org Every 2 weeks at PetSmart 11-1pm. Every other Sunday, 11am-1pm. PetSmart, 63455 N. Highway 97, Bend.

Planting Party for Nighttime Pollinators Join Pollinator Pathway Bend to plant native flowers to support our nocturnal pollinators. Help create a welcoming habitat for moths and other pollinators while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the Nature Center. No gardening experience necessary! Nighttime pollinator-friendly amber light bulbs will also be available at this event. April 27, 10am-Noon. Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, 57245 River Rd., Sunriver, Sunriver. Contact: pollinatorpathwaybend@gmail.com. Free.

From dance floor music anthems to introspective ballads, Frenship will guide you through a sonic landscape that transcends boundaries and connects hearts during its spring tour. Sun., May 12, 8pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesy Frenship Facebook

CALENDAR

Thrive Moving Volunteers Support your neighbors by helping them move to their new home. If interested, fill out the volunteer form or reach out! Ongoing. Contact: 541-728-1022. TCOmoving22@gmail.com.

Volunteer with Mustangs To The Rescue

Get a great workout, feel useful doing something meaningful and experience the healing energy of horses all at the same time! Mustangs to the Rescue (MTTR) is a local horse rescue seeking responsible, hard-working souls to assist with all aspects of horse care. No experience necessary. Call and leave a message or email: 541-330-8943 volunteer@mustangstotherescue Ongoing. Mustangs To The Rescue, 21670 SE McGilvray Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-3308943. volunteer@mustangstotherescue.org.

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

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

Volunteer: Help Businesses Prosper! Share your professional and business expertise. Become a volunteer mentor with SCORE in Central Oregon. The chapter is growing. Your experience and knowledge will be valued by both new and existing businesses in the community. To apply, call 541-316-0662 or visit centraloregon. score.org/volunteer. Fri, Aug. 26 and Ongoing. Contact: 541-316-0662.

Volunteers Needed for Humane Society Thrift Store

Do you love animals and discovering “new” treasures? Then volunteering at the HSCO Thrift Store is a great way to combine your passions while helping raise funds to provide animal welfare services for the local community. For more information visit the website at www.hsco.org/volunteer. Ongoing. Humane Society Thrift Shop, 61220 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3840. abigail@hsco. org.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

AARP Driver Safety Course

Refresh your safe driving skills, and you may save money on car insurance! Become a safer and more confident driver, learn skills and strategies you can use on the road, and discover defensive driving techniques to use daily! This course is for those 50+. Call today to register: 503-676-3653. Fourth Thursday of every month, 8:45am-4pm. Bend Senior Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Road, Bend. Contact: 503-676-3653. m.griffin.aarp@gmail. com. $20/AARP members, $25/all others.

April 2024 Central Oregon PubTalk

EDCO’s Central Oregon PubTalk is a happy hour aimed at bringing together different facets of the business community in one place to network, share ideas and further local businesses. 4:30pm networking and 5:30pm program. April 25, 4:30-7pm. Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-388-3236. emily@edcoinfo. com. $32-$48.

Bend Pinochle Club Come join this group for Single Deck Pinochle in the afternoon. $5 for non-members. If you have any questions or wish for more information please call 541-389-1752. Thursdays, 11:30am and Fridays, 11:30am. Golden Age Card Club, 40 SE 5th St, Bend. Contact: 541-389-1752. Free.

Bend Ukelele Group (BUGs) Do you play Uke? Like to learn to play? Beginners and experienced players all welcome to join the fun every Tuesday at 6:30-8pm at Big E’s just off 3rd street near Reed Market. Go play with the group! Tue, Dec. 6, 6:30pm and Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Big E’s Sports Bar, 1012 SE Cleveland Ave., Bend. Contact: 206-707-6337. Free.

Breaking Barriers: Life Beyond Labels

Conference This conference gathers together people of all abilities to create inclusive communities and challenge our existing perspectives. Register at www.breakingbarriersoregon.com

April 24, 9am-4pm. Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Redmond. Contact: 541-548-8559. info@codsn. org. 0-$50.

Central Oregon Climate Tech Meet-Up

Monthly Central Oregon Climate Tech Meet-Up to network with folks interested or working in the climate tech industry. Discussion topics include carbon removal, renewable energy, electrification, regenerative agriculture, water efficiency and more! At Crux. Last Wednesday of every month, 6-8pm. Through Oct. 31. Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St., Bend. Contact: anichols888@gmail.com. Free.

Central Oregon Homebuyer Webinar

Learn all about the home-buying process, financing options, contingencies and most importantly, whether or not now is the right time to buy or sell. Free weekly webinars, every Thursday at 5:30PM. All are welcome: sellers, first time buyers, trading up, investors or relocating. Visit www.centralORwebinars.com to register today! Thursdays, 5:30-6:30pm. Online Event, Webinar Link Inside Confirmation Email, Bend. Contact: 503-810-2723. scass@kw.com. Free.

City Nature Challenge - Guided Bird

Walk at Hatfield Ponds

Start the City Nature Challenge with a dawn birdwatching event! Join Think Wild for a free, family-friendly bird ID walk at Hatfield Ponds. Explore this wetland sanctuary, spotting diverse waterfowl like Blacknecked Stilts. Learn bird identification by sight and sound, equipped with provided binoculars and guides. April 26, 7-9am. Hatfield Lake, 22395 McGrath Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-668-6165. molly@thinkwildco.org. Free.

City Nature Challenge - Wetland Plant ID workshop at Tetherow Crossing Park

Dive into wetland plant natural history and identification at Tetherow Crossing Park for the Wetland Plant ID workshop. Gain expertise through instructor-led keying, discussions and understanding how these species indicate ecosystem health. April 27, 9am-Noon. Tetherow Crossing Park, 5810 NW Tetherow Rd, Redmond. Contact: 541-668-6165. molly@thinkwildco.org. Free.

Nerd Night Presents: Science Trivia - New Time! Nerd Night presents: Science Trivia. Test your science knowledge, compete for prizes and have fun. New “Summer Hours” start time at 7pm. April 30, 7-9pm. Oblivion Pour House, 61276 Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: jake@ skeptoid.com. Free.

Prenatal Yoga Rejuvenate, relax and recharge as you move, breathe and build community with other expectant moms! Reduce common pregnancy discomforts and tensions, prepare your body for birth, improve your postpartum recovery and bring mindfulness to your daily life. All levels and stages of pregnancy are welcome. 6-week series. Saturdays, 10:30-11:45am. Through May 11. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $125.

Redmond Chess Club Redmond Chess Club meets Tuesday evenings at the High Desert Music Hall in Redmond. Come join for an evening of chess! Everyone is welcome. Sets provided or bring your own. Contact Gilbert at 503-490-9596. Tuesdays, 6-9pm. High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave, Redmond. Contact: 503-4909596. raygoza_gilbert@yahoo.com. Free.

Ribbon Cutting and Celebration

Competitive Cribbage

Play nine games of cribbage versus nine different opponents. Cash prizes awarded based on number of wins. Mondays, 5-8pm. Abby’s Legendary Pizza, 1115 Northeast Third St., Bend. Contact: 541-5301112. rickyticky1954@gmail.com. $2-$18.

Connect W Cocktail Connections Collaborative Event with SCORE ConnectW, a business women’s non-profit organization, is collaborating with SCORE of Central Oregon to create a dynamic platform for women professionals at a special event on April 25. Cash bar available. Registration required at https://connectw.org/event/april-2024-cocktail-connection/ April 25, 5-6:30pm. 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Pub & Brewing Facility, 62950 NE 18th St., Bend. Contact: 541-410-1894. info@connectw.org.

Flying Start Bend Oregon Ever dream of learning to fly? This free informational meeting will help you get off to a Flying Start! Get practical answers to your questions about flying from local pilots. Hosted by local nonprofit EAA chapter 1345. Cap off your morning with a free introductory flight. April 27, 8am-1pm. Bend Airport, 63132 Powell Butte Rd., Bend. Contact: 717-724-7139. wright.thomas@yahoo.com. Free.

Guns to Gardens: Turning Unwanted Guns Into Garden Tools Bring your unwanted, unloaded firearms to be dismantled during this anonymous safe surrender event. Leftover metal parts will transform into garden tools. As a thank you, firearm donors will receive a $100-$300 Safeway gift card for each firearm. Learn more on our website! April 27, 9am-Noon. Antioch Church Office, 566 NE Clay St - 2nd Floor, Bend. Contact: 408-528-5377. antioch.gunstogardens@gmail.com.Free.

Hanai Community Open House This free offering is a time for all community members to visit Hanai and simply enjoy the space! Offering a safe, inspiring space, with yoga mats, tea, books, free classes and wellness offerings, and authentic connection. Explore, connect, nourish and create. Mondays, 3-5pm. Through April 29. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-6683170. ashlee@hanaifoundation.org. Free.

Marijuana Anonymous Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share the experience, strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana. Entrance on Staats St. Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm. Bend Church, 680 NW Bond Street, Bend. Contact: 541-633-6025. curbdaherb@gmail.com. Free.

The Giving Plate is opening the doors to a newly renovated Distribution center for warehousing and receiving food donations from the community to support the community store and Kid’s Korner programs. Food, drinks, raffle, food drive and facility tours available. Limited parking. April 30, 4-7pm. The Giving Plate Distribution Center, 1212 NE 1st Street, Bend. Free.

Single Mingle and Speed Dating

Indulge in a night of mingling and laughter. Exclusively for those 21 and over, this is your chance to engage in female to male speed dating. Please RSVP. Every fourth Saturday, 6-8pm. Through Dec. 28. Bridge 99 Brewery, 63063 Layton Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6145. events@ oregonsingleites.com. $5.

Tension Release

Yoga Come stretch, enjoy self-massage and unwind from your busy week. Using yoga therapy balls and foam rollers these classes will heal sore or injured muscles through self-myofascial massage. Plus, through gentle yoga and restorative postures , improve your breathing, releasing patterns of tension and tightness stored in the body. Sundays, 6:307:45pm. Through May 12. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $125.

Toastmasters of Redmond

Become a confident public speaker. Do you want to become a member of an organization that provides a safe and supportive environment to improve your public speaking skills? A place that fosters community, socialization and builds your self confidence. A place to have fun. Newcomers are supportively welcomed. Tuesdays, Noon-1pm. Church of Christ, 925 NW 7th St., Redmond. Contact: 541-292-6177. garyae@gmail.com. $60 for 6 months.

Total Core Yoga

This invigorating series focuses on developing your total core. Come and improve your posture and balance as well as enhance your yoga standing and inverted poses. Each week strengthen, stretch, and stabilize a different area of your core. Moms three months and up, postpartum are welcome to attend. Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm. Through May 6. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $125.

Wild Women Book Club Come join other women in community as participants dive deep into the untamed feminine psyche. This is set up in a way that you can jump in at any time with or without reading the “required” pages. Join in the discussion or just come for a cup of tea and listen! Fourth Wednesday of every month, 6-8pm. The Peoples Apothecary, 1841 NE Division Street, Bend. Contact: 541-728-2368. classes@thepeoplesapothecary.net. $9/online, $10/door.

Known for its country and Americana music, Tyler and The Train Robbers have honed their craft and deliver electrifying performances. The band is made of up three brothers, Tylor Ketchum, Jason Bushman and Tommy Bushman. Sat., May 11, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

Courtesy Tyler and The Train Robber Facebook

Yasuko Azuma Trunk Show Meet the artist Yasuko Azuma in person Saturday April 27. Together with her husband Tsuneyuki, her jewelry is all hand crafted in 18K gold, Platinum, and Sterling Silver, using high quality gemstones and diamonds, in their Brooklyn, NY, studio. Silverado can’t wait to share their unique treasures with you! Stop by the gallery from 10am to 5pm to meet Yasuko and Tsuneyuki in person! April 27, 10am-5pm. Silverado, 1001 NW Wall St, #101., Bend. Contact: 5413307457. bendbuyer@silveradogallery.com. Free.

Yoga Mama Classes Develop a yoga and mindful practice that builds strength and flexibility and helps balance out emotions. Reduce common “mom” tensions especially in the low back, neck and shoulders, while increasing core strength and rebalancing your hips and pelvis. Learn Ayurvedic Yoga methods to reduce fatigue in this 6-week series. Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45pm. Through May 8. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-2413919. info@freespiritbend.com. $126.

FUNDRAISING

BINGO Benefiting Shelter Pets in Need! Play BINGO on Thursday, April 25 6-8pm at Spider City Brewing! Do you love to win money? Do you love to help pets in need?Come join for a fun filled night of both! Half the pot goes to the winner and half goes to RylieMay Rescue & Furry Freight! April 25, 6-8pm. Spider City Brewing, 1177 SE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: info@ furryfreight.org. $2-$3 per card.

Bingo for Brightside at the Blacksmith! Come join Blacksmith Public House for another FUNdraiser BINGO event benefitting local rescue Brightside Animal Center! Play 4 rounds of BINGO, win awesome raffle prizes, and meet adoptable doggies from Brightside! April 28, 11am-1pm. Blacksmith Public House, 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-6048878. Free.

Bingo Fundraiser for Silver Linings Rescue Ranch Free admission, cash prizes, $1 bingo cards. Proceeds benefit Silver Linings Rescue Ranch. Second and Fourth Wednesday of every month, 5-7:30pm. Rae’s Coffee & Food, 6033 SW Williams Rd, Powell Butte. Contact: 425-238-2370. Free.

Chili at the Ranch: Fundraiser Supporting Local Veteran Resilience Savor delicious chili and support local veterans at this chili cook-off fundraiser! Every spoonful of veteran-made chili aids empowerment. Join Central Oregon Veterans Ranch in benefitting local veterans’ journey towards strength and purpose. Let’s sow seeds of resilience and community. April 27, 11:30am-1:30pm. Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, 65920 61st St, Bend. Contact: EHAMMOND@FHCO.ORG. Free.

Mountain Bike Maintenance Tips and Tricks with COTA and Pine Mountain Sports Come to Patagonia Bend on April 24 to learn basic bike maintenance tips and tricks with Pine Mountain Sports. Hang out after for a short film with Central Oregon Trail Alliance highlighting how they keep trails fast and flowy and enjoy some refreshments from Deschutes Brewery. April 24, 6-7pm. Patagonia Bend, 1000 Wall St. Suite 140, Bend. Contact: events@patagoniabend.com. 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.

P.E.O. Spring Faire P.E.O. is an international organization that provides educational scholarships, grants and loans to women. Come learn about the organization and the educational philanthropies. Goods will be available for sale with all proceeds benefiting the educational projects. April 27, 9:30am-Noon. First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: 443852-2489. janemacm1@gmail.com. Free.

Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette 2024 Signature Event

Join on Friday, Apr. 26 for Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette’s 2024 Signature Event: In This Moment! As the area continues to face threats in accessing sexual and reproductive health care more and more each year, you’ll hear voices from PPCW’s frontline staff share exactly what the reality is! Free, $25 suggested donation. April 26, Noon-1pm. Online Event, Webinar Link Inside Confirmation Email, Bend. Contact: 503-2806165. events@ppcw.org.

Spring Makers Market Support local small businesses this April at Immersion Brewing’s Spring Makers Market! Join in the raffles, live music, photobus and more at this brewery wide event! This is an all ages event, all proceeds to benefit Street Dog Hero. April 27, 3-7pm. Barrel Room @ Immersion Brewing, (no address), (no city). Free.

EVENTS

+ MARKETS

Garden Fair Join Deschutes Public Library and community organizations for a free, fun event learning from experts on how to help pollinators, compost, roll up seed bombs, grow vegetables in Central Oregon’s climate, create paints from your garden and more! April 28, 11am-1pm. Sisters Firehouse Community Hall, 301 S Elm St, Sisters. Contact: 541-312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Sunriver Music Festival Tickets on Sale Now Tickets for the Sunriver Music Festival are now available! Find tickets at sunrivermusic.org or call 541-593-1084. Ongoing. Online Event, Webinar Link Inside Confirmation Email, Bend. Contact: 541-593-1084.

FAMILY + KIDS

15th Anniversary Open House! Deschutes River Montessori School turns celebrates 15 years of early childhood education in Bend with a celebratory open house! Now enrolling 3-6 year old’s for the 24/25 school year. Come learn about the Montessori method and explore our sweet community! April 30, 4-5:30pm. Deschutes River Montessori School, 929 SW Simpson Ave, Suite 130, Bend. Contact: 541-633-7299. staffdrms@Gmail.com. Free.

Adult Ballet

Come learn or rediscover the art of ballet on Thursday nights! Adult Ballet is an open-level class for adult learners and dancers. All levels of previous experience are welcome, and no previous experience is required. Trial classes are available, for more information visit our website! Tuesdays, 6:45-7:45pm. Through June 15. Academia De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4055. Price Varies.

Children’s Book Drive

Please drop off your new or gently-used children’s and young adult books so we can distribute them to nonprofit organizations in Central Oregon. Books for ages birth to 18 are welcome! At Newport Market from 10am-2pm on April 27 and June 15 Newport Avenue Market, 1121 NW Newport Ave., Bend. Contact: dweber1000@gmail.com.

Family Yoga Classes

Partner-up with your kid-yogis to practice yoga and mindfulness together! We teach kid-friendly yoga sequences, partner poses, acro-yoga while introducing breathing techniques and mindfulness practices. 6-week series, age 5 - 8 plus parent/caregiver. Thursdays, 4:15-5:15pm. Through June 20. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $135..

Hello! Storytime Hello, and welcome to Roundabout Books Storytime! Share stories, movement and a touch of music with 0-5 year olds, geared toward those younger ages. There is a heavy emphasis on fun, so bring your listening ears and a smile. April 24, 10:30-11am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com.

Homestead Academy Now Enrolling

Homestead Academy provides outdoor farmbased education for children ages 3-5 years old in the Three Rivers community of Bend. Visit HomesteadFarmsBend.com for enrollment information.Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9am-1pm. Through June 4. Homestead Farms, 55535 Homestead Way, Bend. Contact: 925-783-4074. camphomesteadbend@gmail.com.

Kid’s Night Out

Drop off the kids ages 4-12 for a fun time at Kids Night Out! Pizza, games and jumping from 6-9pm. Purchase tickets online ahead of time as space is limited. Adult staff does roll-call 4 times per night, Kids remain on-site until pickup. Fridays, 7-9pm. Mountain Air Trampoline Park, 20495 Murray Road, Bend. Contact: 541-647-1409. info@mountainairbend.com. $30.

Kids Ninja Warrior: After School Camp

Drop off the kids for the fun-filled Ninja Warrior Camp. They’ll get their energy out and get their exercise in! 6-week series, age 6 - 10, drop-off. Wednesdays, 1:30-4pm. Through June 19. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $199.

Learn Robotics

Come learn real-world robotics. DIY Cave’s robots have advanced capabilities like object tracking, speech recognition, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Learn to program new behaviors including how to walk, dance, talk, see, hear and interact with surroundings. With ARC software, programming skills are broken down into easy to learn steps. Wednesdays, 2-3:30 and 4-5:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541388-2283. makeit@diycave.com. $50.

Line and Swing Lessons

Free lessons each Thursday and Family nights every other Wednesday. See calendar for event dates, times and lesson taught! Thursdays, 7-10pm. CrossEyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4270. luke@spinthekitchen. com. Free.

Mini-Ninja Classes

Your children will develop important coordination skills, improve balance, and build confidence as they tackle Ninja Warrior obstacle courses designed around a weekly theme. 6-week series, age 2 - 3 plus parent / caregiver. Mondays-Wednesdays. Through June 19. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $125.

Songwriter

Courtesy Conner Bennett Facebook

Wonderful Watersheds with Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory

Join the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory andlearn about watersheds! How does water move through an environment? What can pollute our water? What are wetlands and what do they do? This program is intended for children ages 6-12, and all children must be accompanied by a caregiver. April 25, 3-4pm. La Pine Library, 16425 1st St, La Pine. Contact: 541-312-1062. Elsah@ deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

FOOD + DRINK

Cat-tastic Cookie Decorating Class Get ready for a cat-tastic time at this cookie decorating class hosted by Heather Goss, the creative genius behind Kook’i! Join for a fun-filled session where you’ll learn the art of decorating cookies while surrounded by adorable feline friends. April 28, 4-6pm. Playful Paws Cat Cafe, 1465 SW Knoll Ave, Bend. Contact: meow@playfulpawscatcafe.com. $75.

Fried Chicken Thursdays Fried Chicken Thursdays at Flights Wine Bar! Dine in with a 2-piece plate with sides and a biscuit for $18 or take an 8-piece bucket and a bottle to-go! Upgrade to the “Balla Bucket” to get a selected bottle of champagne. Thursdays, 3-9pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@gmail. com. $38.

Know Gardens - Tea Making with Metolius Artisan Tea Create your own special tea blend with Metolius Tea. Registration required. See, smell, taste, and play with herbs and spices to make your own unique tea and bring home your very own tea blend. You’ll also get to name your tea and decorate your own tea jar label. April 27, 4-5pm. East Bend Public Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

BEER + DRINK

“Shuck It Up” Oyster Roast Get ready for a shuckin’ good time at the Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market for the inaugural Oyster Roast! Head to the patio for oysters, CLBC brews, local live music, EarthCruiser rig tours and great company. April 27, 2-5pm. Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market, 21175 SE Reed Market Road Lot #2, Bend. Contact: 458-836-7866. alex@cascadelakes.com. $45.

$12 Burger and Beer Thursday’s with Blue Eyes Burgers and Fries Come on out to Boss Rambler Beer Club for $12 Burger and Beer Night with Blue Eyes Burgers and Fries every Thursday! Thursdays. Boss Rambler Beer Club, 1009 NW Galveston Ave., Bend.

Monkless to the Mountain The mountains are open and “Monkless to the Mountains” is back! Flash your mountain pass and get $1 off your first draft beer, or flight. You just found your après-ski hang out! Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30am-8pm. Through May 30. Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie, 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 541-797-6760.

Trivia and Wing Wednesday! 75-cent wing special and trivia every Wednesday night at JC’s! Bring your friends or join a team and make new ones! Winning team wins Happy Hour pricing for the week! Wednesdays, 7-9pm. Through April 24. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Free.

Viaggio Wine School Let’s take a journey through the Loire Valley in France! In this class, be lead you through a selection of wines from key areas in the valley and explore what makes this valley so very special. Small tasting group at the Farm Table $50 ($40 for Wine Club Members) April 25, 5:30-7pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Drive, Suite 160, Bend. Contact: 541299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. $50.

HEALTH

+ WELLNESS

Après-ski at Viaggio! Whether your winter adventures include skis, boards, snowshoes or fat bikes and join after for Après Ski and get 10% off the bar menu, food and drink, special wine pours and signature Mulled Wine! Saturdays and Sundays 2-5pm. Saturdays-Sundays, 2-5pm. Through April 30. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Drive, Suite 160, Bend. Contact: 541299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Price Varies.

Cross Cut Warming Hut: Locals’ Day!

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

Flash Your Pass - 50% Off Your First Two Beers Enjoy 50% off your first 2 Cascade Lakes Brewing Company beers or ciders when you flash your season passes at the Pub on Reed Market. Mt. Bachelor or Hoodoo season passes or day-of lift tickets valid. Every Thursday, take advantage of Wax + Brew with Between Evergreens tuning service. Feb. 26-June 1. Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market, 21175 SE Reed Market Road Lot #2, Bend.

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

Happy Hour At the Bend Wine Bar, come in to take advantage of special pricing during weekly happy hour. Featuring $5 off artisanal cheese and charcuterie boards, $2 off of wines by the glass and $1 off pint draft beers. Mondays-Thursdays, 2-4pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free.

Industry Day Mondays! Relax and let us serve you for a change. $5 well drinks, $5 beers, food specials and raffles. Show OLCC permit or Food Handler card to be entered in our weekly raffles for gift cards, knife sets and other great prizes! Mondays, 11am-9pm. Sunriver Brewing Co. Galveston Pub, 1005 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-408-9377. jeff@sunriverbrewingcompany.com. Free.

Locals’ Night at WaypointBBC Locals’ Night at WaypointBBC! $5 draft beer, $8 house red and white wine and $8 specialty cocktail. Tuesdays, Noon-10pm. Waypoint, 921 NW Mt Washington Drive, Bend. Contact: 458-206-0826. Waypointbbc@gmail.com. Free.

Mixed Case Tuesdays Shop Viaggio Wine Merchant on Tuesdays and receive 15% off your purchase of any mixed case of wine (12 bottles), and 20% off special order cases we order for you. Tuesdays, 3-9pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Drive, Suite 160, Bend. Contact: 541299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Free.

Amba: Embodied Movement for Women Amba classes include movement, breath and restorative body meditation. Heal your nervous system, be less caught in thought loops, more grounded in your body and learn to deeply enjoy movement. Thursdays, 6pm. Through May 3. Hanai Center, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: 541-668-6494. Hey@ambamethod.com. $25.

Breathwork Teacher Training Certification This is a 4-day Breathwork Teacher Training and you will receive a certificate! Grow yourself a fulfilling and amazing business! Thu, April 25, 8am-5pm, Fri, April 26, 8am-5pm, Sat, April 27, 8am-5pm and Sun, April 28, 8am-5pm. This is your opportunity to join Jon Paul Crimi, in this incredible journey of Breathwork. This is a four-day in-person Breathwork teacher training and you will leave with a certificate. Special early bird pricing!! Thu, April 25, 8am-5pm, Fri, April 26, 8am-5pm, Sat, April 27, 8am-5pm and Sun, April 28, 8am-5pm. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. Contact: 310-6256751. breathewithjp@gmail.com. $3,550..

Crystal Bowl Didgeridoo Reiki Sound

Bath Drop in deep into the healing harmonics of live didgeridoo, crystal bowls, binaural beats, reiki, flutes, chimes and more! This Sound Bath is a profound journey, an opportunity to deeply relax, let go and bathe in live crystal bowl binaural music that blissfully soothes your mind, body, emotions and spirit! Sundays, 6:30-7:45pm. Unity Spiritual Community, 63645 Scenic Dr, Bend. Contact: 808-887-0830. lisacswisher@gmail. com. $20.

Guided Forest Bath at Shevlin Park Join a 1-hour guided Forest Bathing Experience in beautiful Shevlin Park to deeply connect to the natural world and feed your soul. Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin Yoku, is a practice where participants bathe themselves in the forest atmosphere. Led by Missie Wikler, a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. Registration required. April 27, 2-3pm. Shevlin Park, 18920 Shevlin Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Gut Healing Jumpstart! Half Day Immersion Got Tummy Troubles? Learn how to heal your gut for good! Full resolution of SIBO, candida, leaky gut, bloating, constipation, etc. is possible with holistic methods. Join this experiential class for nutrition, yoga, mindset and meditation techniques that will empower you to truly heal your digestive distress. Lunch Included. April 27, 10am-1pm. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: flowzeda@gmail.com. $75.

Living in Harmony with your Hormones - Perimenopause edition Ladies from your late 30’s to early 50’s - Are you experiencing changes in your period, mood and cognitive disturbances, weight gain, hot flashes, body aches for no reason? Then come learn how to use nutrition and lifestyle to support your hormones and thrive in perimenopause and menopause!

April 27, 2-3:30pm. Bendy Body Pilates, 62080 Dean Swift Rd #110, Bend. Contact: 970-4817760. info@wnourished.com. Free..

Mini Reiki Sessions

Enjoy a 20-minute reiki session with experienced reiki practitioners, Natalia Martin and Kati Kornhuber. Reiki is a safe, natural, and non-invasive form of energy healing. Benefits include reduced stress, improved mood, better sleep and pain relief. Drop-ins welcome. First come, first serve. April 29, 3-5pm. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-6683170. ashlee@hanaifoundation.org. Free.

NAMI Family Support Group

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Last Thursday of every month, 5:15-6:45pm. Contact: 541-3160167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Shadow Yoga Basics, Donation Based

Introduces principles and practices of Shadow Yoga, with an emphasis on the lower structure and building the pathway of power. Pay what you can. Mondays, 6-7pm. Continuum, A School of Shadow Yoga, 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 112, Bend. Contact: 541588-2480. info@continuum-yoga.com. $1 - $19.

Shala Breathwork

Shake off the weekend and let go of the expectations for the upcoming week with breathwork at Yoga Shala Bend! Join Whitney as she guides participants through a beautiful breathing meditation with music! Sundays, 6:15-7:15pm. Yoga Shala Bend, 806 NW Brooks St. Suite 200, Bend. Contact: 208-4096028. breathewithwhitney@gmail.com. $20..

Tai Chi Unlock the Secrets of Serenity with Grandmaster Franklin’s Tai Chi Class! Embark on a transformative journey toward inner balance, harmony and a healthier you! Grandmaster Franklin invites you to join his exclusive Tai Chi Class, where ancient wisdom meets modern well-being. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:45-10:45am. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-797-9620. arawak327@gmail.com. $100.

The Healing Circle

The Healing Circle is a space where the heart, body, mind, and soul are seen as self-healing. Honor each individual’s capacity to heal, to break free from self-defeating patterns, and to recover from past traumas. Vulnerability is courage here, hold your truths in confidence and reverence. Thursdays, 5:15-6:30pm. Online Event, Webinar Link Inside Confirmation Email, Bend. Contact: 541-408-0968. jennifer@ sriponya.com. First month is free, $11/Month.

Women of Alchemy - Tools for Walking the Sacred Path Reclaim and activate women’s wisdom, from soul to science. This alchemizing course is a deep dive into the sacred journey: understanding and moving through consciousness, from triggers to triumphs for a happier, more thriving and flourishing you. Topics change weekly. Monthly subscription includes tools, sacred women’s practices and juicy discourse. Mondays, 6:30-8pm. Through June 3. Online Course, 50 SE Scott Street, Bend. Contact: 541-603-8485. wayseersevolution@gmail.com. $155.

Yoga for Pelvic Health and Healing, with Laura Flood, PT, DPT, RYT - Local Pelvic Health Physical Therapist Learn how to connect to your pelvic floor muscles, so you can care for your pelvic area in your daily life, yoga practice and recreational activities. Small group class focused on: pelvic anatomy and physiology, alignment based yoga postures, breathing and nervous system awareness. Sign up online: www.lotusflowerphysio.com/yoga Fridays, 12:30-1:30pm. Namaspa Yoga Studio, 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-2416008. Laura@lotusflowerphysio.com. $25.

A band local to Sisters, The Weather Machine, now lives in New Zealand and tours across both continents. They are known for exploring a wide range of music from traditional indie folk and rock to experimental post-glam. Sat., May 11, 8pm at The Belfry.

Courtesy The Weather Machine Facebook

We Central Oregonians have well developed palates and are always eager to discover a new culinary destination, or rediscover an old favorite. Here is your invitation to put your best pie forward and establish yourself as the Don of the Dough, the Sauce Boss, the Premier of Pizza. No matter your preferred style: New York, Chicago, Neopolitan or anything in between, we want to share your talent and passion for pies with the community. Let’s see what you got!

Photo and description due by May 17

For more information and to reserve your space, contact advertise@bendsource.com / 541-383-0800

CHOW C

Joe’s Korean Fried Chicken at Yoli — straight gas!

—Jonny Becklund

The chefs honored in our 2024 Restaurant Guide (featured inside this very same edition!) know a thing or two about good eats — that’s probably why they were named Restaurant of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Food Cart of the Year and Rookie Cart of the Year in the first place. And while we spent time telling some of their stories inside that Restaurant Guide, we’re taking some time here to share some other info we gleaned from our interviews with the restaurant and food cart owners.

Here are thoughts on Bend and Central Oregon’s restaurant scene, from some of the same people who really, really like to make you tasty food.

Where They Like to Eat

Jonny Becklund of Dear Irene: Rancher Butcher Chef, Yoli, Juno Japanese Garden, The Lemon Tree, BOSA.

John Gorham of Rancher Butcher Chef: 900 Wall happy hour, Yoli.

Justin Halvorsen of Farmer’s Deli: Food is interpretive. It’s massively interpretive. Bend is unique in what they offer – I moved here because there are so many restaurants here. The majority of restaurants are privately

Chef’s Choice

The restaurateurs featured in this year’s Restaurant Guide share their faves for eating out in Central Oregon

By Nicole Vulcan

owned – mom and pop, if you will. I think that’s beautiful because it give them their own sense of identity. Once you start seeing the cookie cutter, you lose something.

Joseph Franco of Americana: Tacos La Catrina and Pho Viet.

Favorite Dishes from Around Town

Jonny Becklund of Dear Irene: The steak tartare at RBC – a classic dish. Joe’s Korean Fried Chicken at Yoli — straight gas!

Irene Becklund of Dear Irene: Elk chops at RBC – it’s cool to see different ingredients brought out.

John Gorham of Rancher Butcher Chef: El Sancho Chicken Bowl. We don’t put chicken on our menu, so that’s what I crave! Pizza Mondo slices are amazing — that is great pizza.

Renee Gorham of Rancher Butcher Chef: A Chicago Dog from Burgz n Dogz. Pho Viet’s Bun Bo Hue. Jackson’s Corner and Dear Mom.

Joseph Franco of Americana: Foie Budino at Bos Taurus, Chorizo Breakfast Burrito at Don Gambino’s

By Nicole Vulcan

It’s Farmers Market Time!

Bend Farmers Market opens May 1 LITTLE BITES

It’s a sign that the warm season is officially upon us: the Bend Farmers Market is set to open this week, starting Wednesday, May 1. The market runs from 11am to 3pm every Wednesday through Oct. 9 in Brooks Alley in downtown Bend. Local and regional farmers bring a wealth of seasonal produce, baked goods, food products and so much more from over 40 vendors. Like other years, people with EBT/SNAP benefits can get “Double Up Food Bucks” that offer a $20 match on fresh produce and $6 in matching funds to spend on cheese, poultry and other meats.

"Whether you're a longtime supporter or a first-time visitor, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the Bend Farmers Market," said Amy Vanderlaan, BFM board president.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Crossing and Sisters farmers markets both open in early June.

What Bend/Central Oregon Needs On Its Food Scene

Jonny Becklund of Dear Irene: A traditional, omakase-style sushi spot — like traditional Japanese. And a raw bar with oysters and crab, and a proper dim sum house.

John Gorham of Rancher Butcher

Chef: Dim Sum. Peruvian rotisserie chicken. I love a rotisserie chicken, and the Peruvian style is my favorite.

Renee Gorham of Rancher Butcher

Chef: Ethiopian, and as much as I love Yoli, I’d love a real Korean grill. And, an Asian market. And great Mediterranean.

Justin Halvorsen of Farmer’s Deli: For me I see a niche where a lot of East Coasters are moving here, and I miss East Coast beer. When you’re missing home, food can quell that a little bit–so for me, it’s just a really nice, solid sandwich. I’d like to do more of New Jersey — like heroes… we call them grinders, and everyone out here is like, “what’s a grinder?”

Joseph Franco of Americana: More Vietnamese options!

Cinco de Mayo at ROAM

A special menu for the weekend

Mark your calendar for May 3 to 5, when ROAM, the downtown restaurant in the Oxford Hotel, celebrates Cinco de Mayo for three days straight. Executive Chef Bryant Kryck has a passion for Mexican cuisine following his training with James Beard-Winning Chef Iliana de la Vega. He’s created a menu for the celebration that includes Cochinita Pibil, Half Chicken or Enchiladas with Oaxacan Mole, House Made Wild Boar Chorizo, Vegetarian Empanadas with Creamy Mushroom Mezcal Sauce — and, natch, signature margaritas and other yummy beverages. Brunch will stay on the menu throughout the Cinco de Mayo events, but from 2 to 10pm each day the kitchen will also offer this specialty menu. Cinco

Fri.,

Top left, Bun Bo Hue in the background, a favorite of Renee Gorham, and Ginger Salmon Pho from Pho Viet & Cafe in the foreground. Top right, a pizza slice and a salad at Pizza Mondo, one of John Gorham’s go-tos. Bottom right, Korean Fried Chicken at Yoli, a fave of chef Jonny Becklund.

Courtesy Yoli Facebook

Courtesy Pho Viet Facebook Courtesy Pizza Mondo Facebook

Fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced locally whenever possible, chef-prepared meals made to order, new menus debuted frequently, and maximum flexibility are the cornerstones of Touchmark’s Choice Dining Program. Discover vibrant community living with some of Bend’s best restaurants just steps from your door!

Scan the QR code to learn more.

CCULTURE Northwest Indigenous Author’s New Essay Collection Highlights Her Coast Salish Identity

"Thunder" examines the intersection of Indigenous ancestry, Coast Salish history, queerdom and punk

By Paul Marshall, OPB

Northwest author Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s newest book is called “Thunder Song.” It’s a collection of essays examining the intersection of her Indigenous ancestry, Coast Salish history, queerdom and punk.

OPB’s Paul Marshall spoke to LaPointe about the book. The following is a transcript of the conversation.

Paul Marshall: Your great-grandmother’s presence is evident throughout the book. She’s such a powerful figure while writing this book. Did you learn anything new about her?

Sasha LaPointe: She was such a huge part of my life. She helped in raising us and educating us on our Coast Salish culture. I constantly feel like I’m learning new things about her.

A friend of the family, who was one of her former language students, wrote a really beautiful book about her life called “Where The Language Lives.” I was reading that shortly after the publication of “Red Paint” (LaPointe’s 2022 autobiography), and there were really interesting things about her younger life. I had no idea that she knew how to read tea leaves.

Throughout this book, I knew about the symphony, “The Healing Heart of the First People of This Land,” and how adamant she was in getting that completed. I already knew the basics of that, but digging into that story and talking to my mom a lot about it and just seeing how dedicated she was, reading the details and of course the documentary “The Healing Heart of Lushootseed,” I got to know more intimately what that meant to her. Her ambition, care and compassion. I learned more of the extent and the intensity of her commitment.

Marshall: In the book, your uncle asked the question, what kind of Indian are you? Has any part of your answer changed since writing this book?

LaPointe: No. In fact, that first Salmon Ceremony, it’s one of my favorite essays. It was one of my favorites to write.

There’s so much joy as a Native person and empowerment, this sense of pride in my identity and that took a long time to arrive at. It wasn’t until adulthood. It’s a hard thing to be proud of who you are and also in the face of settler colonial trauma. Being a survivor, sometimes it’s hard to really embrace that part of your identity.

Marshall: You start to find your footing in the punk space. But you know that you had to be punk first, then Native person second and you’ve touched on it. How did you reconcile your identity in the space?

LaPointe: It took a long time, to be honest. There are a lot of incredible things that I experienced, and the punk community was such an important part of my life. I think for any folks who are feeling misfit or a sense of displacement, we seek friends and family, we seek community, and the punk scene provided that for a while. I both love and have a massive critique of it. I think both can exist, but it was really hard.

As I continue to grow as a human and want to have these conversations about Indigenous issues. I over time started discovering that it wasn’t the right space or community to have these conversations.

I started to feel more lonely. I can’t talk to a white anarchist about settler colonial trauma to the extent that they’re

really going to get where I’m coming from and see me as a person. I started having these ideas and really wanting to process them and work them out as an artist, a person, a weirdo in the punk scene and realizing there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for connection and to do that.

Going to the Institute of American Indian Arts really opened up my world. I can be in a room with other indigenous artists, writers, poets, painters, filmmakers and I feel less alone. I’m in a space where we can have these conversations back and forth.

I think that making those connections and meeting my Native art community made me realize just how othered and different I felt in some of those spaces.

Marshall: You wrote that songs have the power to heal and can be medicine. The book title is Thunder Song. What does the title mean to you?

LaPointe: It comes from the title essay ‘Thunder Song’ which is sort of an homage to my great-grandmother. It’s a kind of a love letter to all that she did in her life and all that she was. Choosing to title the collection after that was important to me because in recognizing that 20 years ago, she had this vision.

She felt called to do this work to commission a symphony because she believed very deeply in our Coast Salish culture and our ways: the fact that our songs are medicine and she wanted to share that. It’s as true as it was 20 years ago as it is today, if not more.

I imagine if my great-grandmother was with us today, looking around the state of the world she would be deeply disturbed and concerned. Her whole goal with that symphony was to remind people to be kind to one another, to take care of one another, which is a very basic part of our Coast Salish ways of being.

She just wanted to share that. The issues in my book aren’t site-specific. They’re not simply Coast Salish problems. These are problems all over the world. Titling it “Thunder Song” was a way to honor her and to also say the world still needs this medicine.

—This story originally appeared on the website of Oregon Public Broadcasting April 16, and is reprinted under a content sharing agreement. It’s been edited here for length.

Courtesy OPB

May 4, 2024, 10am-5pm

SEVENTH MOUNTAIN RESORT

A Day to Celebrate You!

+ 5K Fun Run/Walk

+ Cooking Demos (and samples!)

+ Wellness Workshops

+ Mother / Daughter Tea Party

+ Outdoor Adventure

+ Networking

+ Inspiring Speakers

+ Local businesses to shop and more!

Get tickets: bendwomensexpo.com

“We

One Day. 50 States. One Thousand Bookstores

Celebrating Indie Bookstore Day

By Cassie Clemans, Owner of Roundabout Books and Cafe

must work together to support local booksellers everywhere so that they can continue to thrive and champion books on a local level with the personal touch and human connection that we all need, now more than ever.”

— Amanda Gorman, Indie Bookstore Ambassador 2023-2024

Icanceled my Amazon Prime account more than six years ago and haven’t bought a single thing with it since, that is, until a couple weeks ago when I was helping my daughter with a last-minute move in Washington, D.C. Her roommate had left with the couch, brooms, coffee maker, bathmat, dishes and trash can, and I succumbed to the easy accessibility of everything in one spot, clicked a button, and quickly resolved the problem without the hassle of navigating multiple stores and the D.C. parking situation. The guilt has been weighing on me ever since, though I’m well aware that one person boycotting Amazon makes no difference whatsoever to them. I am only hurting myself by creating the unnecessary hardship of tracking down unrelated household items in multiple stores the old-fashioned, more expensive, way.

Yet I find myself recommitting to my Amazon-ban despite this moment of weakness. Why? Because I own an indie bookstore, and Amazon puts indie bookstores at risk.

In January, “The Nation” reported on the antitrust lawsuit brought on by the FTC and 17 states against Amazon, reporting that Amazon earns $28 billion a year from book sales, controls more than 50% of the print book market and 80% of the e-book market. The latest American Booksellers Association white paper on Amazon gives a documented history of tax evasion, price predation and unprecedented control over the supply chain, all which led to the monopolistic power of Amazon today that controls the economics of an industry, and the algorithms that steer not just buying decisions, but the representation of authors and ideas.

On the other hand, independent bookstores are intimately integrated into our communities — sanctuaries of safe spaces, champions of free expression, investigators of thought and stewards of knowledge and progress. We are seekers of truly great literature. Our booksellers provide guided expertise through mountains of possibility

and are reliable advocates of progress and change. We share a mission based on the understanding that literature inspires empathy and connects readers across time and cultures and borders. We elevate diverse, underrepresented, and marginalized voices, champion free speech and ensure continued access to banned books.

Amazon is not going away, and I’m sure there will be another moment in my future where I “have to” buy brooms and coffee makers from Amazon again. But we don’t have to buy everything from Amazon, and we never have to buy books from them. By making the choice to shop for books at indie bookstores, you keep us here, and make us a destination.

I can’t overemphasize how big an impact you make by choosing to buy a book at an indie bookstore. I’m seven years in and still have months where I struggle to make rent, payroll and keep all the bills paid on time. Whereas Amazon doesn’t notice or care if I boycott them for a decade, every single purchase at an indie is significant and allows us to keep our doors open. The conversations and laughter, the discourse of ideas, the space to sit and catch up with a friend, the author events, the book clubs, the storytimes, the books that change us, comfort us, enlighten us, and connect us — we cannot do any of it without you.

“A purchase from an independent bookseller produces more than 2x the local economic activity as the same purchase from Barnes & Noble, and 4x more than Amazon.”

Source: CivicEconomics Unfulfilled Report

Independent Bookstore Day, observed annually on the last Saturday in April, is when the nation celebrates independent bookstores across the country. This year it feels even more essential to recognize the vital place that bookstores hold in the community, and the good work they do all year long, whether it's through the

support

of schools and fundraisers,

local authors and book clubs, or simply keeping the doors open, community space intact and new books and voices on the shelves every day.

This year, Independent Bookstore Day is Sat., April 27. Roundabout Books is bringing back our Annual Indie Bookstore Tote Bag Giveaway. The first 60 customers to spend $50 may pick up the annual exclusive $15 Indie Bookstore Day tote bag that our staff fills to the brim with FREE books, galleys, gifts and more.

There are also four other incredible indie bookstores in Central Oregon celebrating the day: Dudley’s Bookshop Café, Paulina Springs Books, Herringbone Books, and Sunriver Books & Music. If you live outside of Central Oregon, check out the interactive map of participating stores to find an Indie bookstore in your town and join the celebration. No matter who your favorite local bookstore is, I hope that you'll try to pop in this Saturday and join this national celebration of independent bookstores, because the future is indie!

“Aren’t bookshops wonderfully strange, sitting there with quiet menace, as if they were just a shop and not an entry point to 30,000 universes?”

— Matt Haig, author of “The Midnight Library”

—Eight translators arrive at a house in a primeval Polish forest on the border of Belarus. It belongs to the world-renowned author Irena Rey, and they are there to translate her magnum opus. But within days of their arrival, Irena disappears without a trace. While searching for her, they are forced to face their differences. A hilarious, thought-provoking debut novel examining art, celebrity and the power of language.

“The Extinction of Irena Ray” by Jennifer Croft

Photo courtesy of Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman

SC SCREEN May the Source Be With You: April Edition

What show has your favorite ending?

By Jared Rasic

We’ve talked about this in the past, but I want to get into it a little bit more: I don’t trust streaming services anymore…especially Netflix and Max. Maybe it’s my OCD, maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been let down too many times before, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to want to commit my (not exceptionally) precious time into a series that might never have an ending. I’m not sure there are many things worse for me than becoming emotionally invested in a story that ends on a cliffhanger.

Like, I get that there are much, much worse things in this world, but as a struggling screenwriter and attempted maker of motion pictures, unfinished art feels like swallowing something down the wrong tube: you still get some sustenance but you kinda wish you could go back to before you tried consuming the thing and maybe take a second before swallowing.

Shows like “Pushing Daisies,” “Westworld,” “The OA,” “My So-Called Life,” “GLOW,” “The Santa Clarita Diet,” “My Name is Earl,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “ALF,” “I Am Not Okay With This” and literally hundreds more ended just as a big question was answered or some twist landed, changing the entire unrealized future of the show. Hell, “Hannibal” got canceled with two characters literally going over a cliff with no resolution.

Obviously, some shows are such conversation pieces that it’s worth taking the chance and watching week to week (cancellation-proof shows like “Succession” and “Game of Thrones”), but I’ve been burned so many times now that I’m tempted to only watch shows that have already ended on their own terms with an actual, planned series finale.

If you’re like me and have trouble trusting, here are a few currently streaming shows that have genuinely satisfying endings that don’t betray your investment.

Now Streaming

One of the most underrated shows of the 21st Century is “The Leftovers,” a puzzle box family drama from Damon “Lost” Lindelof that tickles the brain and the heartstrings in equal measure. Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon star as two regular people in a world where 2% of the world’s population mysteriously disappeared and everyone left is just not handling it very well. What’s pretty incredible about this show is that across its three seasons and 28 episodes it never stops evolving and telling emotionally intimate stories inside an epic and

unpredictable thriller. Plus, the ending of this show is so beautifully done that it remains a series you can watch over and over while never getting tired of the characters and world building. This is probably in my top five shows of all time.

Speaking of top five shows of all time: Can we even forget to talk about the perfection that is “Six Feet Under?” Following the Fisher family (who put the “fun” back in dysfunctional) as they deal with love, death and everything in between while living their lives running a struggling funeral home, “Six Feet Under” has what is inarguably one of the best endings of all time. Over the show’s five seasons and 63 episodes, The Fishers end up feeling like real people, wringing every tear and bit of laughter out of its audience one deeply affecting episode at a time. If you haven’t seen this, you won’t regret taking the journey. In fact, just watch the first episode and if you’re not hooked by the end, you never will be.

If you want something a little lighter there are the obvious comedy classics like “The (UK or U.S.) Office,” “Parks and Recreation” or the extremely underrated “New Girl,” but the sitcom I personally get the most rewatch value out of is “Superstore.” Over six seasons and 113 episodes, “Superstore” wasn’t just consistently funny, weird and completely obsessed with its own lovable characters, but it managed to tell stories about being a middle-class, big-box store worker that felt authentic and sometimes touching. Their personal and financial struggles weren’t always easily forgotten about after a perfectly timed joke or a “will they/won’t they”

romantic arc; instead, led by the insanely talented America Ferrera, these characters were relatable and lovable until the perfect final episode.

While the list isn’t bottomless, there really are so many shows that stick the landing beautifully and actually reward your time commitment. From the brutal irony of “The Shield,” the goofy, big-hearted warmth of “Chuck,” the cerebral and thought provoking “Halt and Catch Fire,” the sneakily haunting “Mad Men,” the life-affirming perfection of “Reservation Dogs,” the gut-punch of “The Americans,” the tears and laughter

of “Schitt’s Creek” or the absolute cartoon insanity of “30 Rock,” when a creator is given a chance to follow their vision through to the end, most of the time it’s pretty special.

I mean, not all the time. Sometimes the creator forgets what made the show special in the first place and then poops the bed so loudly, publicly and violently that everyone forgets why they loved the thing in the first place. I’m looking at you “Game of Thrones,” “Dexter” and “How I Met Your Mother.” Be better. I mean, it’s too late now, but, you know, keep it in mind for next time.

Does anyone else still think about “Six Feet Under” like once a week?

Photos courtesy of HBO

The Godfather of Ultralight Backpacking Comes to Bend

Glen Van Peski’s new book, “Take Less. Do More.” encompasses life lessons learned from ultralight travel spiced with generosity, gratitude, and curiosity

By Damian Fagan

My hope is that the words I’ve chosen, because people hear things in different ways and absorb them at a time that’s right for them, and the stories I’ve told and the timing of the book will coincide for them and they can implement some of the lessons in a way that creates a life with a little more purpose, meaning, and joy.

— Glen Van Peski

Author Glen Van Peski’s byline reads “Entrepreneur/ Engineer, Author/Speaker, Philanthropist/ Dishwasher,” which provides a unique introduction to this man of many accomplishments, especially the “dishwasher” moniker. Van Peski will do a book signing and presentation at Roundabout Books and Cafe in Bend on May 2 for his new book, “Take Less. Do More: Surprising life lessons in generosity, gratitude, and curiosity from an ultralightweight backpacker.”

“The book really stems from me working for almost 50 years to reduce my packweight, which started with my first big adventure, cycling across the United States in 1976 with a couple of buddies,” said Van Peski, who also led backpacking trips for his son’s Boy Scout troop. “I realized as I thought of writing this book, that those lessons that I learned from lightening my load were also applicable to leading a more fulfilling life even when I was off the trail.”

Van Peski holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from California State University – Northridge and a Master of Business Administration from National University. Though Van Peski retired in 2017 from civil engineering, he’s always been an “inveterate tinker and maker,” always involved in some project or another.

In 1998, Van Peski founded Gossamer Gear and championed the concept of ultralite equipment for outdoor adventures. His energy and interest revolutionized backpacking for weekend or longdistance hikers and cyclists. Through this process, Van Peski learned that “take less, do more” was more than just a slogan but a way to create purpose, joy, and meaning in his life.

“When you lighten your load you create margin,” said Van Peski. “This margin can be used to travel further, but it also gives you margin to help others.” As an example, having margin in finances by living on less than he makes and setting some of this by to address the needs of others that come across his path enables him to take notice and have resources such as time, energy, and money to impact the lives around him.

This approach to generosity connected him to people and their businesses, such as Travel Ledge, Bluffworks, Food for the Sole, and Love Life! Van Peski used his margin to either invest in these companies or to help them with designs and prototypes, all while maintaining his leading life lesson of “adventures provide the richness and texture to a life well lived, so remain open and keep saying yes to life’s opportunities.”

“My hope is that the words I’ve chosen, because people hear things in different ways and absorb them at a time that’s right for them, and the stories I’ve told and the timing of the book, will coincide for them and they can implement some of the lessons in a way that creates a life with a little more purpose, meaning and joy,” added Van Peski.

"We are so excited to hear how Glen Van Peski took the slogan "take less, do more" to another level in his new book of the same name,” said Julie Swearingen, Roundabout Books & Cafe event manager. “The author will do a short reading from the book, explain some of the life lessons found inside, and then answer questions before signing books." Van Peski will also donate 100% of the profits from the sale of his book to the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

This is a $5 ticketed event; sign up on the Roundabout Books & Cafe’s website and purchase a copy of Van Peski’s book in advance. “Take less. Do more. It’s a revolutionary idea that will transform your life and free your soul to find your purpose — and maybe a little bit of adventure too,” said Van Peski. Plus, you’ll want to hear about his adventure as a dishwasher in person.

Author Presentation and Book Signing

Photos courtesy Glen Van Peski Glen Van Peski

By Savannah Mendoza

Rock n’ Roll at RendezVan

The ultimate spring celebration full of van life culture and skiing events at Mt. Bachelor

The RendezVan festival returns to Mt. Bachelor for the ultimate spring celebration, brimming with van-life culture, spring shredding, music, food and more. Whether participants choose to stay for the day, a night, or camp out for the entire four-day duration of the festival, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

RendezVan offers an array of experiences reflecting the vibrant van-life movement, Mt. Bachelor’s unique spring skiing and a community full of spirit and fun. Each day is packed with a plethora of fun activities that span from dawn to dusk. Festival-goers can spend their time spring skiing against the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains, partake in free activities such as ax-throwing, capture memories in a van photo booth, find serenity through guided slopeside yoga and enjoy a lineup of live music performances throughout the weekend.

“This is our biggest event of the year,” remarked John Merriman, president and general manager of Mt. Bachelor. “Locals and visitors alike flock to the resort to join the party. Whether they’re camping all weekend or just coming up for the day, it’s the place to be. We anticipate high demand again this year, especially with such an incredible music lineup. It’s going to be a blast.”

The festivities kick off on Thursay May 2, featuring DJ entertainment in the afternoon followed by performances from local talents, including Central Oregon’s beloved live act, Billy and the Box Kid, and headliner, the nine-piece funk band, Company Grand.

On Friday May 3, the fun continues with a Deschutes Dog Dash, live DJ sets, a dog parade and an evening of electronic-funk music presented by The Floozie and Robert DeLong. Headliners over the weekend include live performances by Saint Motel alongside The Dip on Saturday May 4. Wrap up the weekend with skiing and an outdoor yoga class on Sunday May 5.

RendezVan Festival at Mt. Bachelor

Thu.- Sun., Mar 2 – 5

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort at West Village Lodge

13000 SW Century Dr., Bend rendezvan.com

Free (VIP Ticket Options Available)

An overview of last year’s RendezVan Festival in Spring of 2023.

Courtesy POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co.

THE PSYCHEDELIC FRONTIER

EXPLORING INTENTIONAL PSYCHEDELIC USE IN THE MODERN WORLD

BEND BIKE

the establishment of this regulatory framework may appear structured and reassuring on the surface, it remains an untested and evolving system.

For thousands of years, people have been guided through psychedelic experiences by individuals drawing from ancient traditions, personal experiences, relevant research and training. They have been the authors and guardians of sacred knowledge. In the U.S., many continued even after most psychedelic substances were criminalized with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, despite facing legal risks and societal stigma and motivated by a deep commitment to helping others.

Understandably, many are hesitant to now become regulated in a system that has often been hostile toward their very existence, especially considering they were not invited to take part in its creation. As a result, some of the most experienced psychedelic practitioners remain underground.

study models and does not encompass all safe or effective methods, disregarding valuable indigenous practices and knowledge. These issues stem from a lack of representation in the creation of the system, which notably excluded indigenous elders and seasoned underground practitioners.

The upside to this model is that there are many people who are interested in or in need of these services who will only access them through legally sanctioned routes. The truth is we are at a perilous point in the history of humanity that consciousness, thoughtfulness and heart-healing are in dire need in our Western world, and all viable and responsible routes to these healing and awakening experiences are in desperate need.

When choosing support for psychedelic experiences it's essential to consider the facilitator's personal experience, training, screening and safety measures, effectiveness and accountability. Under the current rules, facilitators are not required to have personal experience with psilocybin whatsoever. Considering questions of whether government oversight ensures an environment of safety, accountability and effectiveness, we can examine other systems managed by the Oregon state government, such as health care, foster care, prisons and schools. While all regulated and licensed, these systems famously do not always prioritize the well-being and best interests of those served. Moreover, the training requirements for other approved professional certifications, such as yoga teachers (200 hours) and massage therapists (500 hours) far exceed those for psilocybin facilitators (150 hours). This raises further concerns about whether lawmakers fully comprehend the scope of the psychedelic facilitator's role.

Monday, May 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

First, let’s address some of licensing’s downsides. Compliance with regulations often steeply increases costs through taxes and fees, limiting accessibility for clients. Additionally, governmental control imposes restrictions not always in the best interests of clients or facilitators. There are limitations to sessions being held outdoors and in groups, preparation and administration of the psilocybin, and the regulatory model in place is still rather small, with long waitlists. The only approved practice model is a non-directive approach mirroring research

While licensing brings structure and regulation, the value in the depth of experience, knowledge and adherence to tradition offered by underground facilitators should not be discounted.

The choice between licensed and unlicensed facilitators should be made on a case-by-case basis based on a comprehensive evaluation of everyone’s expertise, approach and alignment of values.

—Questions are encouraged to be sent to mothermarymyco@gmail.com and free 30-minute consultations for further discussions can be made through her website https://myco.vision Family-friendly activities

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Puzzle for the week of April 22, 2024

any of ______ you can eat? ” - Marilyn Monroe

Answer for the week of April 15, 2024

I

E Y S R D T I M O

T S I D E Y M O R

M R E T O I D Y S

Y D O S M R T I E

"April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain."

- T.S. Eliot

© Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Bordering the Pacific Ocean for a thousand miles, Chile’s Atacama Desert is a place of stark and startling beauty. Unfortunately, its pristine landscape is also a dumping ground for vast amounts of discarded clothes that people bought cheaply, wore out quickly, and didn’t want anymore. Is there any other place on earth that more poignantly symbolizes the overlap of sacred and profane? In the coming weeks, Taurus, you will possess a special aptitude for succeeding in situations with metaphorical resemblances to the Atacama. You will have an enhanced power to inject ingenious changes wherever messiness is mixed with elegance, wherever blemished beauty requires redemption, and wherever lyrical truths need to be rescued from careless duplicity or pretense.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): My Gemini friend Alicia thrives on having a quick, acute, whirling-dervish-like intelligence. It’s one of her strong points now, but it wasn’t always. She says she used to be hyperactive. She thought of serenity as boring—“like some wan, bland floral tea.” But after years of therapy, she is joyous to have discovered “a kind of serenity that’s like sweet, frothy hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.” I’m guessing that many of you Geminis have been evolving in a similar direction in recent months—and will climax this excellent period of relaxing growth in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21July 22): All Cancerians who read this oracle are automatically included on the Primal Prayer Power List. During the next 13 days, my team of 13 Prayer Warriors and I will sing incantations to nurture your vigor, sovereignty, and clarity of purpose. We will envision your dormant potentials ripening. We will call on both human and divine allies to guide you in receiving and bestowing the love that gives your life supreme meaning. How should you prepare for this flood of blessings?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to my astrological perspective, you are entering a phase when you could dramatically refine how relationships function in your life. To capitalize on the potential, you must figure out how to have fun while doing the hard work that such an effort will take. Here are three questions to get you started. 1 What can you do to foster a graceful balance between being too self-centered and giving too much of yourself? 2. Are there any stale patterns in your deep psyche that tend to undermine your love life? If so, how could you transform or dissolve them? 3. Given the fact that any close relationship inevitably provokes the dark sides of both allies, how can you cultivate healthy ways to deal with that?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I feel sad when I see my friends tangling with mediocre problems. The uninspiring dilemmas aren’t very interesting and don’t provoke much personal growth. They use up psychic energy that could be better allocated. Thankfully, I don’t expect you to suffer this bland fate in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You will entertain high-quality quandaries. They will call forth the best in you. They will stimulate your creativity and make you smarter and kinder and wilder. Congratulations on working diligently to drum up such rich challenges!

Start by having a long talk with yourself in which you describe exactly why you deserve these gifts.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A meme on Instagram said, “The day I stopped worrying about what other people think of me was the day I became free.” This sentiment provokes mixed feelings in me. I agree it’s liberating not to be obsessed with what people think of us. On the other hand, I believe we should indeed care about how we affect others. We are wise to learn from them about how we can be our best selves. Our “freedom" includes the discernment to know which ideas people have about us are worth paying attention to and which are best forgotten and ignored. In my opinion, Leo, these are important themes for you to ruminate on right now.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is a holy place for Islam. Jerusalem is the equivalent for Judaism, and the Vatican is for Catholicism. Other spiritual traditions regard natural areas as numinous and exalting. For instance, the Yoruba people of Nigeria cherish Osun-Osogbo, a sacred grove of trees along the Osun River. I’d love it if there were equivalent sanctuaries for you, Virgo—where you could go to heal and recharge whenever you need to. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify power spots like these. If there are no such havens for you, find or create some.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In my astrological opinion, you are entering a period when you can turn any potential breakdown into a breakthrough. If a spiritual emergency arises, I predict you will use it to rouse wisdom that sparks your emergence from numbness and apathy. Darkness will be your ally because it will be the best place to access hidden strength and untapped resources. And here’s the best news of all: Unripe and wounded parts of your psyche will get healing upgrades as you navigate your way through the intriguing mysteries.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1894, a modest Agave ferox plant began its life at a botanical garden in Oxford, England. By 1994, a hundred years later, it had grown to be six feet tall but had never bloomed. Then one December day, the greenhouse temperature accidentally climbed above 68 degrees F. During the next two weeks, the plant grew twice as tall. Six months later, it bloomed bright yellow flowers for the first time. I suspect metaphorically comparable events will soon occur for you, Capricorn. They may already be underway.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Have you felt a longing to be nurtured? Have you fantasized about asking for support and encouragement and mentoring? If so, wonderful! Your intuition is working well! My astrological analysis suggests you would dramatically benefit from basking in the care and influence of people who can elevate and champion you; who can cherish and exalt you; who can feed and inspire you. My advice is to pursue the blessings of such helpers without inhibition or apology. You need and deserve to be treated like a vibrant treasure.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In his book Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception, Thom Hartmann theorizes that distractibility may have been an asset for our ancestors. Having a short attention span meant they were ever alert for possible dangers and opportunities in their environment. If they were out walking at night, being lost in thought could prevent them from tuning into warning signals from the bushes. Likewise, while hunting, they would benefit from being ultra-receptive to fleeting phenomena and ready to make snap decisions. I encourage you to be like a hunter in the coming weeks, Pisces. Not for wild animals, but for wild clues, wild signs, and wild help.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Have you ever gotten your mind, heart, and soul in sweet alignment with the spiritual beauty of money? An opportunity to do that is available. During the next four weeks, you can cultivate an almost mystical communion with the archetype of well-earned wealth. What does that mean? Well, you could be the beneficiary of novel insights and hot tips about how best to conduct your finances. You might get intuitions about actions you could take to bring more riches into your life. Be alert for help from unexpected sources. You may notice that the more generous you are, the more the world’s generosity will flow your way.

Homework: Is there any important situation where you’re not giving your best? Fix that, please. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE THIRD ACT

A COLUMN ON AGEISM AND AGEING

By Ellen Waterston

Ribbit

Go ahead, call me a batrachopile, a ranidaphile. You can have your crocus, your yellow blaze of forsythia and daffodil, or the exuberant conkla-ree song of the red winged blackbird as it heralds its return north. For me the real sign of spring is the sound of the peeper, the tiny, paper clip-sized tree frog that nests all winter under leaves and underbrush next to ponds, wetlands or manmade water features. Not only are these mighty-mites able to live on land or in water, but during the winter their tiny livers flush their bloodstream with what is essentially anti-freeze, a cyroprotectant glucose, allowing them to slow their hearts to a state of dormancy until temps get back to a balmy 40 degrees. It’s then the hooray begins. They hop out of hiding, a balloon of sound fills up their froggy chest and the nighttime hullabaloo gets underway. Though its formal name is Pseudacris Crucifer, another name for this cheery harbinger of spring is, no surprise, Chorus frog.

April is National Frog Month, a tribute to frogs’ reemergence in spring. Okay, a bit niche, but the peepers’ din does serve to put us on notice that we have another spring to celebrate, new beginnings, new adventures. In the world of spirit animals, frogs represent transition — the successful progression from one stage of life to the next, the capacity to move on from any situation. They come by this reputation honestly, their ancestors dating back 250 million years.

Most phases or transition periods humans experience as sequential, taking place in the progressive tense... newborn-ing, toddler--ing, adolescenting, adult-ing. These are all future-forward stage names that imply certain expectations and structures. Young adult? Find work and relationship. Mid-life? Skip the crisis and, instead, focus on growing a family, a business, a community. Go! Go!

Then there’s retirement. It’s what happens after mid-life, post-middleage, before decrepitide. It’s when we’re supposed to...pursue leisure until the end of life? It’s a bit amorphous as a phase, lacking in definitive cultural or social expectations. And it’s a model that doesn’t work for the vast majority of 65-year-olds who either prefer a different approach or can’t afford to take off the work mantle or both. In both cases they’re the richer for it, if you’re to believe reports on the benefits of

staying engaged and on purpose. The words "retire," “retiree” and "retirement" derive from the French retirer, meaning to withdraw, go away. In Europe the common designation is pensioner, conjuring a social dependent who has ceased working, all take and no give. Words shape our reality. Retirement suggests backward motion. Believe it and you will see it. As long as we keep using the word retirement, or even clever wordplays such as “the new retirement,” or “refiring,” or, a bit more positive, “starting older,” a trace of withdrawal, of endings, is still in the air. Given our longer life expectancy, we need a new word for the 20-plus years of activity after 65, for mapping this uncharted transition territory. Go, Magellans! A word that often comes up when asked to describe the experience of the ageing process is diminishment. The time left is shrinking. We want to take full advantage of it, but all systems are not as go as they used to be, something we now must actively factor in when planning a day, a hike, a vacation or climbing the stairs. If only we could stop the clock. Some think they can. Modern-day Magellans of a different ilk are taking a page from the hibernating peepers, placing their dead human bodies in cypropreservation (liquid nitrogen) or in Biostasis, as it’s called. Futuristic scientists speculate they can reverse death by preserving the brain and 3-D printing a new body once that technology gets up to speed. “Once that technology is up to speed” is the operative. Meanwhile, hundreds of bodies lie in frigid waiting around the world.

But without such draconian measures, and, instead, celebrated for the good, bad and ugly of what it is, this phase of life is as rich, complex and dynamic as any before it. It’s definitely not easy or peasy. It requires we cope and adapt in ways we never imagined, but when has that not been true? Rather than retiring into the background, maybe the structure and expectation of this phase is to take the center of this age’s stage with all the vitality, creativity and contentment we can muster. The Spanish got it right. Their word for retirement is jubilación. If you say jubilation fast 10 times it almost starts to sound like ribbit! Well, kinda, but you take my meaning.

—Poet and author Ellen Waterston is a woman of a certain age who resides in Bend. "The Third Act" is a series of columns on ageing and ageism.

Just south of Redmond makes Bend an easy commute from Desert Terrace Park. This 1620 sq ft home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, vaulted ceiling with open floor plan, large dining and kitchen area featuring extended breakfast bar. Oversized master bedroom, walk in closet. Large extra room that could be use as a rec room or spare bedroom when needed (no closet). Newer pellet stove. 2 car carport and front door covered porch and all newer exterior paint. Carport has a handicap ramp available for easy up hill walk into dining area.

Longstanding retail business with extremely loyal customer base. Excellent downtown location, offers unbeatable exposure. Multiple opportunities to grow revenue.

Charming Cottage Residence, ideal for first-time homeowners or as an investment venture, nestled in the heart of Metolius. This cozy onebedroom, one-bathroom dwelling rests upon an expansive 0.17-acre lot, offering ample room for potential expansion or leisure activities. Step onto the covered back patio to bask in the morning sun and relish pastoral vistas. The fully fenced lot ensures privacy and security. Conveniently located just minutes from Madras and a short 22-mile drive to Redmond, this property presents an enticing opportunity.

Nestled within Central Oregon's picturesque landscape lies a treasure

trove of rustic charm and natural splendor. Amid the towering peaks and dense forests, privately owned recreation residences offer a unique opportunity to escape the rigors of daily life and embrace the great outdoors.

What is a “recreation residence”?

Recreation residences through the U.S. Forest Service offer individuals the opportunity to purchase cabins or homes located on national forest lands for recreational use. These residences, often referred to as "forest cabins" or "forest homes," provide a unique opportunity to enjoy access to public lands and recreational activities while also serving as vacation retreats or second homes.

Central Oregon boasts over 4 million acres of public land, including national forests such as the Deschutes and the Ochoco, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Within these beautiful areas, privately owned recreation residences provide a cozy retreat, with over 1,500 such properties scattered throughout the region, according to recent data from the U.S. Forest Service. Specific to our area, and the special places Central Oregonians love to recreate, Elk Lake has 32 privately owned recreation residences, Paulina Lake has six, Crescent Lake boasts 72, Odell Lake offers 66 and the Metolius River hosts 108.

From quaint cabins tucked away in the woods to spacious lodges overlooking pristine lakes, these homes offer a perfect blend of comfort and seclusion. In fact, statistics show that over 70% of recreation residences in Central Oregon are situated on national forest land,

By Kristin Marshall, Broker NestBend, RE/MAX Key Properties

providing residents with unparalleled access to the region's natural wonders.

Not your typical transaction

For those considering purchasing a recreation residence in Central Oregon, it’s important to understand two things. Firstly, that it’s rare to come across the sale of a recreation residence. These cabins tend to be coveted by owners and seldomly come to market. Secondly, that the buyer purchases the home and leases the land from the forest service.

It can be challenging to offer comparative analysis on the value of these recreation residences, as they come to market so rarely and are unique in both structure and location. Assessing their value requires careful consideration of various factors, including the property's size, amenities, proximity to recreational opportunities and the overall desirability of the location. Moreover, the infrequency with which these properties come to market adds an additional layer of complexity to the comparative analysis, making each transaction truly unique.

Because the land is leased in these purchases, a vast majority cannot be financed and require cash. Despite the challenges, the demand for such properties in Central Oregon remains strong. With its unparalleled natural beauty, diverse recreational opportunities and vibrant cultural scene, the region continues to attract buyers seeking a slice of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.

Recreation residences in Central Oregon offer a gateway to a world of adventure, relaxation and natural beauty, if you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to own one.