Source Weekly July 27, 2023

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Not long ago I received my first job application with an AI-generated cover letter. We ran it through an AI detection tool and it came up as “original.” I beg to differ! It was absolutely terrible, and its attempt to show an understanding of Bend and Central Oregon was just abysmal and soulless.

Helpful hint: If you’re applying for a writing job, write the dang cover letter yourself. But I digress!

This week’s AI issue is a long time coming. Our colleagues at larger publications nationwide have been experimenting and expounding upon this topic for several years now, and we finally got in on the fun. See how we used it on this week’s cover and how students are using it as part of this week’s Feature story. See an epic rendering of “Barbenheimer” in this week’s Screen. Learn about how brewers are, or aren’t, integrating machine learning into locals’ favorite glasses of hops and barley in Craft. And read our editorial board’s take on the future of journalism and AI in Opinion.

In short, there’s AI all over this issue! These tools have been an exciting and sometimes confounding addition to our newsroom, but rest assured that whatever we create around here, it’s with you, the readers of Central Oregon, in mind. Our mission to be your mindful and authentic local voice will not change. Thanks, as always, for reading the Source Weekly!

LIGHTMETER:

Thanks to @daniel_ maggiora for tagging us in this fun action shot of @travisscontii biking at the Big Sky Bike Park! The park has several features including a pump track, a learning area, a skills course and multiple trails!

EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com

REPORTER

Jack Harvel- reporter@bendsource.com

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Julianna Lafollette - calendar@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Jared Rasic, Jessica Sanchez-Millar, Donna Britt, Brian Yaeger, Doone Lupine Williams, Ellen Waterston, Jennifer Baires, Alan Sculley

SYNDICATED CONTENT

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

PRODUCTION MANAGER / ART DIRECTOR

Jennifer Galler - production@bendsource.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nathan Elston - design@bendsource.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Ashley Sarvis, Ban Tat, Chad Barnes advertise@bendsource.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

PUBLISHER

Aaron Switzer - aaron@bendsource.com

WILD CARD Paul Butler

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PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS

Courtesy @travisscontii

Don’t forget to share your photos with us and tag @sourceweek ly for a chance to be featured as Instagram of the week and in print as our Lightmeter. Winners receive a free print from @high desertframeworks.

OPINION

Even With AI, People Still Need People to Help Them Understand Their Worlds

This week’s issue delves into artificial intelligence in a way that so far, this newspaper has not yet explored. Indeed, perhaps we’re late to the party, but here we are. We created this week’s cover — a portion of the paper that encourages people to pick it up off the stands and read a while — with the help of a bot, and then enhanced it with the help of our talented design team’s hands. Inside, we generated images for some of the stories by simply entering a few key terms into another bot. We generated a story about wildfires as an exploration of how chatbots can churn out content based on past coverage of other fires. All of these efforts were aided by AI, but at this point, none were ultimately delivered to the public without the capable hands and brains of the people who work here.

We went into this issue like a lot of people who are contemplating a shift as major as the one that is currently underway with AI — with a bit of fear and trepidation and perhaps a note of aversion to change. In journalism, there’s the concern that machines will one day replace the IRL journalists who report the news, the designers who make that work look beautiful, the copy editors whose vast, arcane grasp of grammar ensures the work looks professional… all of that.

What we learned throughout this exploration is that there are going to be changes to our industry, and to every industry, really — but that what makes our product readable, informative and relatable will only be enhanced by one more tool in the toolbox. In journalism, we can see a day when a chatbot can train itself, via video, on a city council meeting and then churn out a basic report of what happened at that meeting. That’s useful and will have a place. But audiences don’t turn to outlets like ours just to get a churn-out of a meeting. Audiences want assessment. They want opinions and analysis, based on local knowledge that isn’t always available on the internet for a bot to access.

This week’s feature story touches on how educators are handling AI in the classroom. In some instances, such as in our local K-12 systems, districts don’t yet have policies in place, yet in individual classrooms, educators are working through these minefields themselves as issues arise. It’s clear that local districts will have to add this to their list of things to set policy around, sooner rather than later.

What’s more, for all of the scrutiny and attention certain parents are putting on the materials that teachers are using in the classroom, it might occur to some of them that there’s a more important and long-lasting question they should be asking, such as: “How is my child’s ability to think critically and creatively going to be fostered in a world where an academic paper on nearly any topic can be churned out in mere seconds?” A child may not remember that they glossed over slavery in their sixth-grade classroom (not ideal), but their brains will certainly be shaped long-term by the level of expectation their teachers have around creative and critical thinking.

For us, the heady questions such as, “How do we go about fostering creativity in young people in the age of AI?” and, “What’s journalism going to look like in the not-too-distant future?” are portions of the same dilemma, and portions of the same opportunity. Sure, we can look to bots to analyze and churn out information that might otherwise be churned out by rote education – but when it comes to the things that really excite people, such as the nuances of a particular city council’s political will, or the contours of a work of fiction that takes one to an imagined world… well, we have yet to see a bot achieve that with any measure of success and human interest.

Today, a bot can churn out a perfect press release with no grammar errors, with the right mix of quotes and basic information. But just like spell check has not allowed every poor speller to fly under the radars of their English teachers, the hit of perfection you get from that bot-generated press release or school essay or newspaper article is tempered by its lack of authenticity and voice.

This newspaper has existed for 26+ years in our community because it offers authenticity and voice and a note of humanity one doesn’t experience with the publications that regurgitate press releases word for word. AI has enhanced this particular issue and will continue to be an aid for fact checking, imagery and other elements of our local journalism – but people still need people to help them understand their worlds. That’s what we’ll continue to be here for.

MAAS, TABITHA JOHNSTON, LAUREN HOFFMAN, LAURA ACEVEDO, COURTNEY MCLAUGHLAN, KELLI SMITH & LINX ALEXANDERSON

GUEST OPINION: STOP THE HATE

Were you aware that July is disability awareness month? Do you have any awareness of what disabled people go through to survive and navigate this world? A disabled person’s risk of becoming homeless is much higher than the able-bodied. Our system allows medical bills to ruin people. My son has been chronically ill for five years. He managed to graduate from Ridgeview High School, and he’s an incredible artist. Sometimes I wonder if we will avoid becoming homeless.

Did you know that a lot of homeless people work? Drug addicts work, too. I have worked in a grocery store for years and I work with them. Now, we don’t have enough jails to lock up all the homeless, and the suicide route is slow going. The best option for everyone is to make housing everyone a priority. Crime goes down too, research shows, when people are housed and fed.

My kids and I were hate-crimed recently in Redmond. We were crossing the street at a crosswalk. A man, who was white, driving a fancy car, was forced to come to a stop, which really chapped his hide. As he pulled away he yelled, “f*cking faggots” at us. Central Oregon, take a look at yourself. It’s not the first time my kids have been hate crimed here. People who do this type of thing, and worse, feel safe doing it. I have observed that some people think an all-white society is better somehow. Wrong! Diversity is much better. Look at nature. How many flowers come in only one color? There are many jobs to be done to make our communities function day in, day out. If you have a problem with queer folk, people of color or the disabled, that truly is your problem. You should get help. Maybe, like, read a book or something. We are all human and we need to learn to take care of each

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!

other. Do you think that you’re better than somebody else because of the color of your skin, or who you choose to love? Wrong. That’s the biggest load of garbage in the world. We have to work together to fix the problems our system is creating. Some homeless people are disabled, some are veterans, some are queer kids who were kicked out for trying to be themselves. Would you rather they all die than help them?

The anti-trans laws in other states are creating internal refugees. More than 200,000 trans folk are trying to flee right now. A Data For Progress survey last month found that about 1 million people are considering fleeing their state due to anti-trans legislation. It is the largest domestic migration crisis since the Dust Bowl upheaval of the 1940s. The queers are here and we have always been here. We can work together to continue addressing these issues on a community level. It starts with education and shining a light on the importance of our interdependence.

—Kayla Boyd

PROTECT WATERWAYS LIKE THE FALL RIVER. PASS THE RIVER DEMOCRACY ACT

The Fall River is one of Central Oregon’s coolest rivers, literally and figuratively. It’s home to crystal clear waters, old-growth forests, hiking trails and plentiful, but not-easily-fooled, trout. However, despite this past winter’s above-average snowpack, this springfed tributary of the Deschutes is experiencing record-low flows this summer. In fact, several of the springs that feed the Fall River are completely dry. For a river that provides vital fish habitat, outstanding recreational opportunities and is an important source of clean, cold water for the Deschutes, this trend is concerning.

The streamflow issues plaguing the Fall River — and other Central Oregon streams — stem from climate change and prolonged drought from years prior. Snowmelt, naturally filtered through layers of lava rock and soil, emerges several years later in the springs that feed the Fall River. It will take many years of above-average snowfall to get back to normal streamflows.

Drought and climate change necessitate that we take all measures to protect our water sources. Fortunately, the Fall River is included in Senator Wyden’s pending River Democracy Act. While this legislation won’t solve all of our climate issues, it will require agencies to “protect and enhance” designated rivers and the important values they provide, such as drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation. Over 3,200 miles of rivers and streams across the state are included.

Our rivers provide for us in so many ways. The River Democracy Act is our opportunity to give back by providing them with these critical protections.

— Sami Godlove, Oregon Wild Bend Office

ELECTRIC BICYCLE DANGERS ON OUR TRAILS

Anyone who walks our many great bike trails in Bend has seen the dangerous behavior electric bikes have brought us; people ride them so fast, and act as if they are their very own raceway. There

has already been a death of a child on one, and many accidents. How long do we have to wait for constructive change?

We need a minimum age for them, speed limits and real enforcement. What are the council people waiting for????

—Larry Anuzi

Letter of the Week:

Larry, the minimum age for an e-bike is already 16, but you’re right — there’s probably more to be done to ensure that is enforced. Come on by for your gift card to Palate!

—Nicole Vulcan

INDEPENDENT

Dogs Fatally Attack Man in Juniper Ridge

Joseph Taylor Keeton passed away at St. Charles after losing blood in a dog attack

By Jack Harvel

Up to three dogs attacked and killed a man living northeast of Bend at a campsite in Juniper Ridge.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers directed DCSO deputies to the campsite, often called Dirt World by the people living there, a little after 1 am on July 19. Once there, they found a man who had been attacked by animals and had lost a substantial amount of blood.

Deputies applied a tourniquet, gave CPR and applied an automated defibrillator to the man, who was later identified as 57-year-old Joseph Taylor Keeton. Bend Fire and Paramedics arrived and transported Keeton to St. Charles Hospital in Bend, where he was pronounced dead later that morning.

Investigators determined three pitbull/bullmastiff mix dogs may be responsible for the attack on Keeton. The dogs’ owner, Jessica Rae Charity, helped crate the dogs and DCSO says she is cooperating with the investigation. The investigation of the incident is ongoing, and DCSO is looking for people who witnessed the attack. Oregon law holds dog owners responsible if their negligence results in a dog bite injury.

Deschutes County estimates there are about 200 people living in Dirt World, which spans about 1,500 acres northeast of Bend. Last month Deschutes County Commissioners voted 2-0 to remove campsites after finding code violations at campsites in the area.

Both Juniper Ridge and China Hat in south Bend have attracted increased scrutiny over the past several months. DCSO appointed a deputy to patrol just those two areas in search of fire, and proposed code amendments to the county commissioners that would regulate the time, place and manner in which people can camp. The code’s first draft mirrors provisions in Bend’s camping codes, but is still being developed.

Lawsuits From Hunnell

The Deschutes District Court sided with the City over Hunnell residents, seeking a delay to camp closures, but more cases are pending

By Jack Harvel

Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Wells Ashby denied a temporary restraining order that would have delayed the sweep of campsites along Hunnell and Clauson roads on July 17, thereby allowing the City to remove the nearly 60 campsites on the road. The City, however, did grant a seven-day extension for 22 people living on Hunnell Road under the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, and extended it another two days due to unsafe air quality from wildfire smoke. In a press release after Ashby’s ruling, the City said it had met all its obligations under local and federal law.

The same plaintiffs from that case, made up of residents of Hunnell Road and homeless service providers, filed a separate complaint in the U.S. District Court in Eugene. It argues that the City is violating their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by only allowing a 10-day delay, that their Fourth Amendment

rights are violated by seizing their property and that their Eighth Amendment Rights are being violated due to the threat of arrest if they fail to vacate before the City clears the camp. Many of the complaints are similar to the request for a temporary restraining order filed in Deschutes County Circuit Court.

As of press time it was not clear if the case in the District Court would appear before a judge before the remaining camps are removed on July 27. The docket for the U.S. District Court of Oregon doesn’t show the case scheduled before Hunnell residents are removed.

The City is facing another court case from Hunnell residents from a case earlier this month. On July 14 the Oregon Justice Resource Center issued a tort notice to the City arguing that its camping code regulating when, where and how people can camp is unconstitutional. The tort notice said a suit will be filed after 90 days, which wouldn’t enter the court until mid-October.

Dirt World, a term describing an area of Juniper Ridge where homeless people have been camping, has an estimated population of over 200. Last month the county approved a plan to remove campsites due to code violations.

Julianna Lafollette

Q&A with Bend’s New Director of Equity and Inclusion

Andrés Portela brings a health equity background to new role at the City of Bend

By Jennifer Baires

Andrés Portela is the city’s new director of Equity and Inclusion, a role he feels ready to take on after spending nearly a decade working for equity in Arizona. In some ways, he says, coming to Bend means getting to join a movement he’s been following from afar for many years.

* This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Source Weekly: I think it would be nice to start with your history and get a little bit of background on what you were doing before coming to Bend.

Andrés Portela: I was working with the Pima County Health Department in the Office of Health Equity. And in that space, I was thinking about, “How do we operationalize equity in the context of health?” So, thinking through, if we put somebody in a specific community, what would it take to have them live and thrive.

SW: What about this job, and Bend, in particular interested you?

AP: It's become a funny anecdote. The City of Bend started the work in 2016. And in 2016, I had just jumped into Civil Rights. I’d just jumped into working at Southwest Fair Housing Council. And in that work, I was saying, “I'm going to start the first Office of Equity in the City of Tucson.”

It was an ambitious goal. And there wasn't the political climate for that to actually happen. So, I started to pull resources on who was doing the work outside of Tucson. And I stumbled upon Bend and some ordinances that they had passed. And that's where we got to 2018.

In 2018, I was in the thick of really trying to bridge the gap between community and elected leaders. And I, again, referenced some of the policy coming out of Bend. And that's when I set up Google Alerts on the City and their equity work. I then got a Google Alert for a job and I sat on it for a little bit of time, and decided to apply to come and work at the City.

SW: What do you think of Bend so far? Had you visited the area before taking the job?

AP: Before taking the job, I came out maybe twice. And I think what pulled me in was the eagerness and willingness of the folks at the City of Bend to do the work.

And then also being a part of the community. When I first came out there, I walked from end to end as a person of color entering a space that is just very different for me. I wanted to make sure that I could feel safe, and I didn't feel unsafe walking through the City of Bend. And so, for me that was extremely important.

SW: What does the term “diversity, equity and inclusion” mean to you and to the City? I feel like it is a term we hear a lot but it's not clear what it might entail.

AP: I think it's extremely important that I don't define it for the City yet. I'll define it for myself. And then I'll tell you where this is going to lead. For me, I think of it in the space of opportunity.

about the resources that are currently at play. And then for folks who don't have access to those resources, inclusion is figuring out once we introduce those resources, how do we get them to adapt. And, diversity is making sure that all the players are at the table.

SW: I was looking at some of the ways that other places have measured inclu-

have a plan before we just have a bunch of metrics and say, “This is how we achieve equity.” There really has to be a plan from ideation to action. And so, I do think those measures are extremely important.

SW: Given high profile examples of racism being an ongoing issue in Central Oregon. I'm curious what you see the city's role as, or what you see a city's role in if you don't want to talk about Bend, specifically, in addressing racism and discrimination so that it's safe here for all people.

AP: I won't speak for the City of Bend. However, in the role that I'm going to jump into…the frame that I look through is personal, interpersonal, system, and system wide. So, it's four levels of change. And in that I'm creating a case for how that deep level of work, of like, "racism has no place in our communities," "xenophobia has no place in our community," "sexism, racism, all of the isms have no place in our community" and why it's everyone's imperative to be actively against it.

I think what we need now is that push of, and I think this is why I was hired, was to create that push on how we include it into every department throughout the city so that we can start to see the result of hate crimes going down. We can see folks fully inclusive and a part of the community. We see economic initiatives being able to bring folks in that that are of different backgrounds, and understand that they have to be culturally competent and culturally informed in order to get folks to stay. Because we don't want to just create opportunity for folks, we do want to create opportunity in the way that will stick, not just we're creating it for the sake of creating it.

SW: As you take on this work, which departments within the city government, and which outside organizations do you see partnering with?

If I place anyone, anybody, in any part of Bend; do they have the resources to thrive? That's thinking about transportation, access to education, utility services, any form of our local government; do they have the resources to thrive? That's how we achieve inclusion.

And then, in doing that, we can start to focus on social, cultural, all of those different things. And so then, that's where we start thinking about, “How do we diversify? How do we become inclusive?”

That's how I would define diversity, equity, and inclusion. Equity is thinking

sivity at the city level. Metric wise, you're looking perhaps at income segregation, housing, affordability, and then racial segregation or racial gaps in homeownership, poverty, educational attainment, and then as well as the city's share of the population that is people of color. How do you think of those measurements? Have similar surveys been done in Bend?

AP: I believe that the City did some equity mapping prior and that remained internal… and I'm grateful that they didn't make that large leap public yet. I plan on doing that, but we needed to

AP: I'm willing to partner with anyone who's willing to do the work. Genuinely. I have met with so many folks; nonprofits, city employees, government, employees, state, county, parks, all of them. I've met with just about all of them thus far. And there has been a deep desire for all of us to do the work multi-jurisdictionally, but also on the ground.

For me, my work starts internally. So, for a while, I may just be a friendly face in the community. But really, the work that we're doing internally is so that we can start to work on the structural inequities.

“In 2018, I was in the thick of really trying to bridge the gap between community and elected leaders. And I, again, referenced some of the policy coming out of Bend. And that's when I set up Google Alerts on the City and their equity work.”

—Andrés Portela

Equity and Inclusion Director Andrés Portela started at the City of Bend July 10.

Courtesy Alexa Osaki, Communications Director for AZ AANHPI

Preguntas y Respuestas con el nuevo Director de Equidad e Inclusión de Bend

Por / By Jennifer Baires Traducido por / Translated by Jéssica Sánchez-Millar

Andrés Portela es el nuevo director de Equidad e Inclusión de la ciudad de Bend, un puesto del cual se siente listo para asumir después de pasar casi una década trabajando por la equidad en Arizona. Dice que de alguna manera, venir a Bend significa afiliarse a un movimiento que ha ejercido desde lejos durante muchos años.

* Esta entrevista ha sido editada para su duración y la claridad.

Source Weekly: Creo que sería bueno comenzar con su trayectoria y saber un poquito sobre su experiencia de lo que hacía antes de venir a Bend.

Andrés Portela: Estaba trabajando con el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Pima en el Gabinete de Equidad en Salud. Y en ese espacio, estaba pensando, “¿Cómo ponemos en práctica la equidad en el contexto de la salud?” Así que, pensando detenidamente, si ponemos a alguien en una comunidad específica, qué se necesitaría para que viva y prospere.

SW: ¿Qué es lo que le interesó de este trabajo y de Bend?

AP: Se ha convertido en una anécdota curiosa. La Ciudad de Bend comenzó el trabajo en 2016. Y en 2016, acababa de lanzarme en el entorno de los derechos civiles. Acababa de empezar a trabajar en Southwest Fair Housing Council. Y en ese trabajo decía, “Voy a iniciar el primer Gabinete de Equidad en la Ciudad de Tucson.”

Era un objetivo ambicioso. Y no había el clima político para que eso sucediera. Así que, comencé a buscar recursos de quién estaba haciendo el trabajo fuera de Tucson. Y me topé con Bend y con algunos reglamentos que habían aprobado. Y así fue como llegamos al 2018.

En 2018, estaba en la causa de tratar realmente de cerrar la brecha entre la comununidad y los líderes electos. Y yo, de nuevo, cite algunas de las medidas que surgen de Bend. Y fue cuando programé alertas por Google sobre la ciudad y su trabajo de equidad. Y de

ahí recibí una alerta por Google para un trabajo y lo pense por un tiempecito y decidí presentar una solicitud de empleo para venir a trabajar en la ciudad.

SW: Por el momento, ¿qué piensa de Bend? ¿Visitó el área antes de aceptar el empleo?

AP: Antes de aceptar el trabajo, vine como un par de veces. Y creo que lo que me atrajo fue la disposición y la buena voluntad de la gente de la ciudad de Bend para hacer el trabajo.

Y el también ser parte de la comunidad. Cuando llegué allí por primera vez, caminé de punta a punta como una persona de color que entra a un espacio que es muy diferente para mí. Quería asegurarme que podía sentirme a salvo y que no me sentía inseguro al caminar por la ciudad de Bend. Así que para mí eso fue importantísimo.

SW: Para usted y para la ciudad, ¿que significa la expresión “diversidad, equidad e inclusión”? Siento que es

una expresión que escuchamos muy a menudo pero no está claro lo que podría implicar.

AP: Creo que es extremadamente importante que todavía no lo defina por la ciudad. Lo definiré por mí mismo.Y entonces les diré hacia adónde nos llevará esto. Para mí es pensar en un espacio de oportunidades.

Si coloco a alguien, a cualquier persona, en cualquier parte de Bend; ¿tienen los recursos para vivir y prosperar? Pensando en el transporte, acceso a la educación, a los servicios públicos, en cualquier forma de nuestro gobierno local; tienen los recursos para vivir y prosperar? Así es como logramos la inclusión.

Y al hacer eso, podemos comenzar a enfocarnos en lo social, cultural, en todas esas cosas diferentes. Y entonces, ahí es donde empezamos a pensar, “¿Cómo diversificamos? ¿Cómo nos volvemos inclusivos?

The first artificial chatbot was a digital therapist called ELIZA that passed words into a computer program and paired them with a list of scripted responses. Its founder, Joseph Weizenbaum, said his aim was to caricature human conversations, not recreate them. When people interacted with ELIZA, Weizenbaum was shocked by how openly people shared their thoughts with the program. Though Weizenbaum was skeptical about a machine’s capacity to mimic human speech, some experts at the time believed chatbots would be indistinguishable from humans within just a couple years. That was in 1966.

Nearly 60 years later, that prediction may be coming true. Last November the most sophisticated chatbot in history was released with ChatGPT. The program responds to user-generated prompts and spits out responses based on information it scrapes from the web. By January ChatGPT gained over 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer software in history.

The surprise-hit software created a buzz in several industries. Writers, coders and communicators worried an AI language model could replace them in the workforce. Health care providers

warned that the software could provide people with inaccurate medical information. A personal injury lawyer was caught using ChatGPT to write a legal motion — in which it referenced several nonexistent legal cases. Perhaps where there’s been the most concern

haven’t had time to keep up.

Both Bend-La Pine Schools and the Redmond School District don’t have specific policies for AI use in schools. Officials at Oregon State University-Cascades, following the guidance of the larger OSU system, said instructors

By Jack Harvel

discussion group. “But there is a sense that it is a game changer, there is a growing number of educators who feel that this is something that you basically can't ignore.”

The Hallmarks of AI

ChatGPT’s ability to opine on just about any subject is impressive, but its prose has been described as formulaic and soulless. Professors can note a change in a student’s typical voice or give it a smell test to see if writing is original. It can still be difficult for educators to tell, with the endless prompts one can feed a software, and with the different language models used on different platforms.

is in education, which could outsource the skills of writing to software.

A survey from January found nearly one-third of college students have used an AI chatbot to complete a written assignment, and more than 15% say they used it for more than half of their writing assignments. With such a massive shift in such a short time, schools

should set clear expectations for when AI learning tools are allowed. Central Oregon Community College formed a discussion group that will start meeting during the fall semester.

“I don't think anyone can actually answer how profound the impact will be,” said Justin Jory, a writing professor at COCC who will co-lead the

“You can get a sense of the voice of AI, and they're different. Google's Bard is different from ChatGPT. And they also make mistakes, sometimes not obvious ones,” said Ariel Mendez, a Bend city councilor and political science instructor at OSU-Cascades. “I kind of love that as a professor, because it gives me some reassurance that we can still outsmart AI, but I don't know if that's going to last forever.”

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, acknowledged the program’s occasional mistruths. It found that the

“I think it raises the question for educators of, what are the really important things that we want students to learn? And, those things are going to remain: critical thinking, how to communicate. You can't have a bot or an AI do that for you.”

—Alix Gitelman

About 30% of students admit to using Artificial Intelligence writing tools just months after their proliferation, and schools aren’t sure what to do about it

earlier models are truthful in response to 58% of questions, and that false answers often echo popular misconceptions. Other instances, it may write a generic response rather than a factual one. But, the models are improving according to the company and personal experience. In February I asked ChatGPT to write a biography for me, which falsely claimed I was raised in a small town, that I am “one of the most respected and credible journalists of [my] generation” and that I’m a “true inspiration to journalists everywhere.” When I asked again in July, it brought me back down to earth.

“As of my last update in September 2021, I do not have information on a prominent journalist named ‘Jack Harvel,’” ChatGPT cruelly and accurately wrote. “It is possible that Jack Harvel is a journalist who gained recognition after my last update, or he may be a journalist working in a specific region or niche that hasn't received widespread attention.”

Some programs claim they can detect AI writing by measuring characteristics of a text, mainly how predictable it is. These tools aren’t guaranteed to catch AI and may give false positives for written samples.

“My colleagues produced something original, they submitted it to an AI detection tool, and it came back as written by an AI. That tells me that the AI detection tools are not great at the moment. They're not, in my opinion, trustworthy. I wouldn't hinge my student assessment or my assessment of student work on an AI detection tool at this moment,” Jory said.

CopeGPT

With no foolproof way to detect AI-generated content, educators are now tasked with reworking assignments to be less amenable to the technology. Alix Gitelman, the vice provost for Academic Affairs at OSU, said faculty are already reworking their assignments to questions that couldn’t be scraped online — things like, “write two paragraphs about last week’s in-class discussion.” Educators are also tasked with being more upfront about the appropriate use cases of AI.

“Our faculty are really wanting to encourage everybody to be more proactive about talking about AI upfront, like, have a conversation with students about what its benefits are and what some problem areas are,” Gitelman said.

There’s also AI as a tool for education rather than a way to plagiarize. While it might be unethical to copy and paste a response for written questions, the line gets blurrier when a student isn’t being evaluated for what they use an AI tool for. She said OSU found one student’s use of AI to generate code for various climate simulation models to be ethical because the student’s thesis was about the impact on

the climate, not the creation of a simulator. It likely saved the student weeks of time.

“I think it raises the question for educators of, what are the really important things that we want students to learn? And, those things are going to remain: critical thinking, how to communicate. You can't have a bot or an AI do that for you,” Gitelman said. “It's got a lot of people trying to sort out both the ethics of it and the utility of it.”

Technological shifts often cause a stir in education. For years people argued against allowing calculators in schools, arguing that they diminish students’ math skills. The other side argued that calculators deepen students’ knowledge about mathematical concepts while showing little impact on arithmetic skills. The advent of the internet made it easier to plagiarize, and easier to check if work was stolen from a third party.

“Technologies are going to be here and we're going to continue to use them. You can't really push back against them, oftentimes,” Jory said. “I think the uses for these and the ways that we're allowed to use will be different across different disciplines. And that'll be dependent on those disciplines’ relationships to technologies.”

Not all of Jory’s colleagues agree on the potential utility of AI writing tools. Almost half of the K-12 educators surveyed in an EdWeek poll thought AI would have a negative impact on education compared to 27% who thought it was a positive change. Jory, though, says there are more questions than answers when it comes to AI in schools.

“I don't feel like I could really put policy or practice into place at the moment, I just have too many questions like, ‘What is this thing? How does it work? How can I use it as an individual?” he said.

While those questions remain unanswered, Jory doesn’t advise students on how to use AI in a classroom setting. Others are more bullish, relying on the detection tools, flawed as they are, and their own intuition to determine whether a student’s writing is authentic.

“I'm approaching the classroom differently,” Mendez said. “Essentially, if there is an opportunity to cheat or plagiarize using AI, I let students know that there are detection tools, but that ultimately, I exercise my own judgment, and take a look at the consequences from that perspective.”

Educators will need to continue following AI-language models and keep searching for the best avenues to regulate it, because the technology isn’t going anywhere. Research and Markets, a firm studying economic trends, estimates that the generative AI market is projected to grow five-fold in the next five years to an estimated $51 billion market by 2028.

These AI-generated images are the result of a human prompt to show the influences of technology in the classroom. Notice the extra legs in the top image and the backward monitors in the bottom image?

Images courtesy of Starryai

Game On!

Join Us For The Grand Opening Of Sunriver Resort’s New Pickleball Complex

Sunriver Resort is proud to debut their new 10-court outdoor pickleball complex. The grand opening will be held on August 8th as a full-day celebration and is open to the public. Join us for a pickle-y extravaganza featuring raffles, pickleball mixers, round robins, delicious food and drinks, and more. Plus, if you join the exclusive Sunriver Pickleball Club at the event on August 8th, you’ll receive a free paddle. We can’t wait to see you on the court!

Is AI Art Bad?

A designer’s opinion on the pluses and minuses of AI art generators

By Jennifer Galler

Below, our initial prompt, "Norman Rockwell style art of robots and children in school learning" (left) generated some less than perfect children. The prompt, "Photorealistic oil painting hand drawn smooth details"(right) was used to generate a more satisified look. The prompt means everything. Knowing how to use descriptive words related to art greatly helps in fine-tuning the prompt.

I'll admit my reluctance to dabble into the world of AI art, as many artists believe it will soon replace many creative careers and will lead to a world of less creative work. It’s interesting to note that beautiful and breathtaking illustrations, photographs and paintings are able to become something automated with just a few simple words typed into a prompt box. AI art generators are designed to scan millions of images from the open web, learning algorithms to recognize patterns and relationships in those images so it may generate new ones in the same style. Funny how uploading an artist’s work online actually trains and benefits their robotic competitors.

Since this feature is focused on AI and our future, it seemed the right opportunity to take a test drive on the road of AI-generated art. This week's cover (along with a few other articles' images) were completely designed using a combination of AI art generators. It's pretty simple to use. As long as you have access to the internet and some time, you, too, can bring your imaginations to life using AI.

Here’s how to go about it:

1. Open your AI art generator of choice. There are many to choose from, such as DALL-E2, Midjourney, NightCafe, OpenArt, Dreams by Wombo, Starryai and for Adobe subscribers, Adobe Firefly (a beta photoshop with AI generating technologies).

2. Type in your prompt. Here's where you need to be specific. The more detailed words you feed the algorithm, the closer more accurate result you'll get.

3. Click "generate" or similar verbiage.

4. Download your AI-generated image so you can impress your friends, print it out to hang on your fridge, or turn it into an NFT.

5. Optional: Use an image editing software to clean it up or make changes.

Here's where we run into the pluses and minuses of AI art generators.

How artists can benefit from AI art:

• Using the material generated as a reference or inspiration. AI art is a great way to create mood boards or adjust pre-existing work.

• AI art helps those who have not been able to create previously.

• AI art can greatly speed up the process of creating concepts. (Which is also a negative for those who work as concept artists.)

Why AI art is bad for artists:

AI art downplays the painful and laborious effort it takes for artists to find their own artistic style, along with the time it takes to craft their pieces. It also impacts an artist’s market value as artists are fighting

against a literal machine. Since it draws majorly from uncredited images, it does not have consent or give compensation to any artist it steals a style from. Policing can also get out of hand when people try to pass off AI creations as original work, capitalizing on other people's hard work.

A commonly asked question, "Is AI art able to replace artists?" has a simple answer: No.

AI relies on material fed by real artists. Composite AI material could snowball and feed on other AI content, but it can only go so far. True art is about the creative process more than the final piece. While there is an initial thrill of seeing an image appear, there is no creative satisfaction. In response to AI, we may even see more appreciation for traditional media. We also may very likely see a new era of artists known as "prompters," those who fine-tune the actual words used in a prompt. In my opinion, we are seeing the beginnings of an "AI-post-modern-art" era. AI isn't good or bad. However, it may put art into a hollow place where the audience loses feelings toward it.

At the end of the day, AI art is simply a tool, not a threat. Those who choose to replace a human with an AI generator are those to blame or worry about, not the AI itself.

—Jennifer Galler is the Source Weekly’s art director and production manager.

Slideshow of various AI-generated faces using the above oil painting prompt. (AI really needs to slow down and zone in on its own artistic style.)

SOURCE PICKS

WEDNESDAY 7/26

NATIONAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT

BEND SPORTS

Thump Coffee is sponsoring the National Pickleball Tournament, Pacific Northwest Classic. The event is hosted by Bend Pickleball Club and nearly 600 players are registered to play in this year's tournament for the $34,000 prize. The family-friendly event will go on for five days. Wed., July 26, 8am. Pine Nursery Park. 3750 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. Free.

THURSDAY 7/27

THURSDAY 7/27

BOOMBOX AT MUNCH & MUSIC

GROOVY TUNES

BoomBox has been playing rock, blues, funk, house and soul since 2004 and has played at festivals all over, from Electric Forest to Hangout. The two play anything that would come out of a boombox, but they make sure everything they make has a groovy vibe.

Thu., July 27, 5:30-9pm. Drake Park. 777 NW Riverside Blvd., Bend. Free.

FRIDAY 7/28

2023 BALLOONS OVER BEND

FAMILY FUN

Come to this family-friendly event to see a magical display in the sky. The free balloon launch is held in the morning. The fun continues in the evening with Night Glow, an evening of music, food and glow-inthe-dark balloons. Kids are invited to participate in the Balloon Blast race. Fri., July 28, 4-9pm. Central Oregon Community College. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. $0-$10.

FRIDAY 7/28

BIRDS OF PLAY

STRING BAND

The Americana roots quartet, Birds of Play, is based in southwestern Colorado and features instruments such as mandolin, upright bass, guitar and violin. Make sure to catch this uplifting and creative live performance. Thu., July 27, 7-9pm. Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $13.

THURSDAY 7/27

THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT

JAM BAND

This festival jam band has played all over the U.S. and is known for its musical creativity and fun live shows. The group was formed in 1993 and plays a mix of progressive bluegrass and psychedelic rock. Thu., July 27, 6:15pm. Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend.

JESS RYAN

GUITAR IMPROVISATION

Local songwriter and musician Jess Ryan started making music at a young age and continues to do so with a soulful blend of indie rock, psychedelia and confessional folk. She’s playing at Avid Cider’s Music on the Patio series where patrons enjoy a variety of drinks and small bites. Fri., July 28, 6:30-8:30pm. Avid Cider Company Taproom. 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 190, Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 7/29

THE COLOR STUDY AND THE MOON RATTLES

SIX-PIECE BAND

The Color Study, which started as a solo project from Scott Oliphant, is a six-piece (and growing) band. With horn instruments, guitar, drums and vocals, this artsy group is guaranteed to put on a lively show. See it with local band, Moon Rattles. Sat., July 29, 6-9pm. Bevel Craft Brewing. 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 7/30

BOYGENIUS

ALL-FEMALE

The indie-rock group, formed in 2018, features talented musicians Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers. The popular artists debuted their studio album as a group, "The Record," in late March. See the talented throuple let loose on the stage. Sun., July 30, 5:45pm. Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $55.

MONDAY 7/31

KY BURT

APPALACHIAN FOLK

Local artist Ky Burt is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with influences from Appalachian string music, old country and contemporary folk. His lyrics chronicle how nature is a guide for our lives. Grab a cold beer and enjoy this live performance on the patio. Mon., July 31, 6-8pm. Cascade Lakes Brewpub. 1441 SW Chandler Ave., #100, Bend.

Courtesy String Cheese Incident Facebook

Courtesy Jess Ryan

Courtesy Birds of Play

Courtesy Ky Burt Facebook

Courtesy Boy Genius Facebook

FRANKIE MORENO

SPINNERS

REV. PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND OCTOBER

Not Your Ex Lover

Local all-girl band brings a post-punk vibe to Central Oregon

By Doone Lupine Williams

Kourtni Diva (lead singer, songwriter, sometimes guitarist and “humble diva”), Alyssa Reyes (a.k.a “Reya,” bassist, background vocals), Julia Canales (lead guitarist, background vocals) and Kiki Castro (drummer) — all form the unique and cosmically synchronized Latina all-girl-band, Not Your Ex Lover.

“I write music and cry,” Diva shared with the Source Weekly. The band’s title was taken from a diary entry from 2014 in her journal. And “Kourtni’s breakup,” Castro jokingly bantered when they took me to lunch at Pizza Mondo.

In my articles I talk a lot about classically trained — highly “experienced”— musicians; musicians who have played in more bands than they can count on their fingers, and bands that also fall in the average age range between their mid30s to early 40s. And yes, the elephant in the room: predominantly male. As I am 99.9% positive Not Your Ex Lover is the only all girl-band that is currently out and about in Central Oregon, booking the same venues as the rest of ‘em.

Not Your Ex Lover is changing the game in more ways than one. Its selfless and non-pretentious involvement on social media keeps people welcomely entertained and in tune with what the band is working on. From goofy rehearsal videos to super creative DIY merch (that the band makes and

fundraises with themselves) — the band openly shares its fresh personality with the audience on and off stage.

The internet initially brought the band together, in addition to a whitewater rafting trip with “Vámanos Outside”— a Latinx organization that engages Latinx communities through the Central Oregon outdoors. This young and femme-forward quartet truly defines the meaning of girl power, through lyrics about mental health awareness, post-breakup blues and most of all, that punk rebellion that comes out of love and heartbreak.

“We’re already seeing a spark in women’s eyes, like, ‘Oh I didn’t know that was possible,'” Diva, who writes the lyrics, shared with us. “We have a couple friends mentioning starting up and allgirl thing, which is amazing. That’s the point.”

It’s not just the music itself that’s bleeding determination from these punk-femme fatales. Reyes and Castro came to the group with absolutely zero experience playing an instrument. Totally fresh to the bass and drums, both members learned the instruments to be in the band. Castro, who’s also the brain behind the true Bend night market, the Bend Moonlight Market — has only taken two drum lessons outside of the band’s rehearsals. But as the

band says, “having amazing music taste helps as well.” And in other effortless acts of bravery, it was at Castro’s Moonlight Market where the band played its first show, opening for Dead Nettle. . . on a full moon, of course. Diva played her first solo show with her keyboard at the Volcanic Theatre Pub in 2017 — now, she has learned guitar alongside the band’s lead guitarist Julia Canales. Canales, originally from Austin, Texas, has been playing rock guitar for 22 years.

Not Your Ex Lover — which also translates to, “don’t treat me like I did something wrong” — carries influences from girl/grunge bands and leading ladies of alternative punk rock before them. Think Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Garbage and Veruca Salt. And I know we’re not all fans of Courtney Love, but it’s fresh to see some Hole energy coming from a Bend band.

Diva also commented, “We’re excited to open for Paramore.”

With firm beliefs in manifestation, Diva continued, “I’ll speak for myself when I say that Bend has an expiration date. I have big plans for this project. Who knows where it will go, but our initial launch has generated a lot of excitement and I look forward to see what’s in store.”

The band already has a bill of five shows to look forward to this summer/

fall, with its next being at Silver Moon Brewing on Aug. 8. “It’s cool to see Bend support different kinds of music,” said Reyes. “It’s nice to see ladies have their moment.” With a wide demographic of fans from the youngins’ in the crowd to those 60+, the band stated, “our demographic so far is so awesome and everyone is so supportive! People’s grandmas like us.”

NOT YOUR EX LOVER’S UPCOMING SHOWS

Tue., Aug. 8, 8pm

Silver Moon Brewing

Fri., Aug. 11, 9pm

M&J Tavern

Sat., Sep. 9, 2:30pm

Keep Your Head Up Festival

Fri., Sep. 22, 8pm

Bunk N Brew

Sat., Sep. 23, 9pm

Harvest Moon Fest

Left, “We’re just women out here passionately.” - Not Your Ex Lover. Right, lead singer/songwriter Kourtni Diva melts M&J Tavern with a Garbage cover, “Paranoid.”

Daniel Salas

Eduardo Romero

We All Have the Right to Dwell

Over 1,400 people are houseless in Deschutes County

Scalehouse

Seventh Mountain ReSoRt

Seventh Mountain ReSoRt

July live MuSic

Live MuSiC

5-8pM. Free. All Ages new OutdOoR StAge [lawn chAiRs welcOme]

5-8pM. Free. AlL Ages new OutdOoR StAge [Lawn ChAiRs weLcOme]

07/01: SPENCER MARLYN LOOP & EFFECTS PEDALS, FUNK/REGGAE/BLUEGRASS

7/29: MAJOR DUDE

STEELY DAN TRIBUTE BAND

07/08: SWEET MOTOR SOUTHERN ROCK & BLUES

07/15: HILLFOLK NOIR GROOVING. RAUCOUS. GENRE - BENDING.

8/5: THE JESS RYAN BAND

DRIVING, TWANG - INFLECTED, PSYCH - INFUSED ROCK

07/22: JAKE ROZIER & THE IMPLICATION FOLK, BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY FROM SPOKANE

8/12: THE HASBENS

07/26: JACOB JOLLIFF BAND

FUNKY JAM BAND FROM NEW YORK

CONTEMPORARY MANDOLIN (FORMERLY OF YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND) BLUEGRASS TICKETS AVAILABLE ON BENDTICKET.COM

ed by

Stargazing with Trombone Shorty and His Friends

Stars of funk, soul, jazz and reggae will be on stage at Hayden Homes this weekend, with Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples and Robert Randolph

By Alan Sculley

In the span of seven studio albums — the first three of which were released on the small independent label, Treme Records —Trombone Shorty has reached the pinnacle for a New Orleans musician.

Leading his 10-person band, Orleans Avenue, the trombonist/trumpeter whose real name is Troy Andrews, is widely considered to be the leading musician who is carrying forward the rich sounds, styles and heritage of New Orleans music to the rest of the world. It’s a position Andrews treasures and treats with great respect.

“We come from a very magical place, and to be able to do my part and continue to add on to what the greats have done, it’s a special thing,” Andrews said in a phone interview. “To be able to carry that torch and bring (New Orleans music) all over the world, it’s just an emotional (experience), like I carry that badge of honor in my heart. So whenever I go out and you see me, you know that I’m representing New Orleans to its fullest. And like I say, I stand on the shoulders of people who helped lift me up to that area.”

Now 37, Andrews has immersed himself in the music of the Crescent City almost from the day he was born. He comes from one of the city’s leading musical families, and was all of four years old when he started playing trombone. He began building his skills by playing along with the musicians in second line parades and had his own band at age six.

Along the way, Andrews was befriended and mentored by some of the city’s most notable musicians, and a year after he graduated from high school in 2004, he toured with Lenny Kravitz as a featured member of Kravitz’s horn section. By the end of 2005, he had released his first three albums under his Trombone Shorty name.

Andrews’ blossoming talents as a musician and songwriter, meanwhile, earned him a deal with Verve Records, which released three acclaimed albums — 2010’s “Backatown,” 2011’s “For True” and 2013’s “Say That to Say This” — that propelled him onto the global stage, earned him opening slots on tours with the Foo Fighters, Hall & Oates and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and had Andrews being touted as New Orleans’ next great artist as he established a robust and lively musical style that spans New Orleans

jazz, funk, R&B, rock and hip-hop.

His status was further affirmed when Andrews was chosen to follow Professor Longhair and the Neville Brothers as the closing act of the city’s famed annual Jazz & Heritage Festival – perhaps the greatest honor a New Orleans musician can achieve.

“I’m just blessed that Quint Davis (producer and director of the festival) thought I was strong enough as a performer to be able to take over that spot,” Andrews said. “We have hundreds of bands in New Orleans, and for him to think that I was ready to give me that opportunity, it’s unbelievable.”

As all of this has happened, Andrews’

global popularity has continued to expand. His next album, 2017’s “Parking Lot Symphony,” went No. 1 on “Billboard” magazine’s Jazz Albums chart and marked his debut under a new deal with Blue Note Records.

This brings things to “Lifted,” an album on which Andrews sought to set aside some of the precision of his previous studio albums in favor of capturing more of the power and energy of a Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue live show.

“That’s exactly what I was going for. I didn’t play it safe,” Andrews said. “We went in there and tried to get as much of the live sound that we could get in the

Trombone Shorty

studio while continuing to make it as tight as we possibly could.”

“Lifted” achieves that goal, as Andrews and Orleans Avenue have never sounded so potent on album. The energy is apparent from the first notes of the opening track, “Come Back,” which balances robust horns and an assertive beat with a smooth R&B melody. There’s jazz and some Earth, Wind & Fire-ish soul on “Good Company” and “Everybody in the World,” while “What It Takes,” featuring a sweet guest vocal from Lauren Daigle, blends pop and soul. Meanwhile, “I’m Standing Here” (with some searing guitar from guest Gary Clark Jr.) and the title track bring gritty rock into the proceedings.

Several songs from “Lifted” figure to be included in the shows Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue play on its current tour. On recent outings, shows lasted two hours or more and Andrews said that might happen again on his current tour.

“We have so much fun on stage, we don’t really feel it until we hit the last note, and our bodies are all tired and beat up,” he said. “We’re like, ‘Oh, we didn’t realize we played that long.’ But you know, when the audience, when the love is there between the audience and the musicians, it’s hard to keep time. We just play.”

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Ziggy Marley, with special guests Mavis Staples and Robert Randolph Sat., July 29, 6pm Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend bendconcerts.com

$49.50+

Trombone Shorty has been playing music his whole life, with his own band starting at age six.

Justen Williams

“We come from a very magical place, and to be able to do my part and continue to add on to what the greats have done, it’s a special thing.”

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If you enjoy working with children, we invite you to join the Bend Park & Recreation District team as a Youth Recreation Leader.

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Request your inter view and learn more at bendparksandrec .org/kidsincjobs

Questions? Call (541) 389-7275 Equal Oppor tunity Employer

"Best Kid-Friendly Brewery" -Bend Nest '23

26 Wednesday

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Jongleur Gems

An evening of song swapping and story telling from some of Bend’s favorite musicians. Please join from 7-9pm in the “Yard” for a great night featuring from Portland, Carl Solomon, who will share the stage with Bobby Lindstrom. These are two of the most active artists in Oregon. 7-9pm. Free.

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

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

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

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

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

Elixir Wine Group Locals Music Night & Open Mic Join a cozy community of appreciative musicians and patrons. Great music, great wine and beer, great times. Small bites available. 6-9pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Tears for Fears One of music’s most impactful, sometimes tense and yet curiously enduring partnerships, Tears For Fears arrived together at The Tipping Point—the group’s ambitious, accomplished and surprising first new studio album in decades.

6:30pm. $39.50-$399.50.

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

Kobold Brewing / The Vault Taphouse

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

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

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

6:30pm. Free.

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

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show The CO Show is a free comedy showcase!

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm! Central Oregon Comedy Scene and Karaokaine productions have teamed up to bring this show to you! It’s co-hosted with multiple hosts, co-produced for Central Oregon! 8pm. Free.

Seventh Mountain Resort Jacob Jolliff Band Jacob Jolliff is one of the country’s premier contemporary mandolinists. 7-10pm.

Silver Moon Brewing Color Green

Color Green is an American rock 'n' roll duo based in Los Angeles, consisting of Noah Kohll (Current Joys, Young Guv, Surf Curse, Dark Tea) and CoreyMadden (Richard Rose, Grave Flowers Bongo Band). Color Green formed in Ridgewood, Queens in 2018. The duo created a four-song self-titled debut EP released by Maximum Exposure in 2020. 7-10pm.

Volcanic Theatre Pub James McMurtry

Celebrated songwriter’s highly anticipated new record marks his debut on New West Records and garners a slew of “Best Of 2021” plus an Americana Music Association Song Of The Year Nomination for “Canola Fields.” 8-11:59pm. $25.

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

27 Thursday

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

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

Austin Mercantile Paul Eddy Bedell Artist and local singer sings hits through the decades, plus originals. 4:30-6:30pm. Free.

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

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

Cascades Theatrical Company

Cole Robeson: Stand-up Comedy Special LIVE TAPING Cole Robeson returns to Bend and is filming his new one hour comedy special! This will be filmed in front of a live audience and will feature comedians Cody Michael and Cody Parr. 8-10pm.

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

Drake Park Munch & Music Summit

Health Munch & Music free concert series in Drake Park presented by The Source Weekly and Hayden Homes celebrates its 32nd season! Free live music, outstanding food vendors at Restaurant Row, family fun in the Kids Zone, local vendors down Artisan Row and beer, wine and spirits. July 20: High Step Society with Fractal July 27: Boombox with Rubbah Tree Aug. 3: Ozomatli with Amargoso Aug. 10: Precious Byrd with Shaene Pascall Band 5:30-9pm. Free. Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards The Junebugs Imagine if Neil Young and Janis Joplin had three love children, and those children grew up to like folk, rock and hip-hop. The Junebugs combine high-energy pop and rock with Pacific Northwest folksy goodness to create a genre-bending sound. 5-8pm. $25/adults, free/ children 12 and under.

General Duffy’s Annex Comedy Night Comedy Night at General Duffy’s Annex! Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm. 21+ required for this show. 7pm.

General Duffy’s Annex Crackin' Up Comedy: Max Boehme Beertown comedy presents Crackin’ Up Comedy at The Annex. Featuring Max Boehme, Nick Lucero and Devin Immked. 8-10pm.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater The String Cheese Incident The past three decades have written a story packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. The String Cheese Incident has been recognized for its commitment to musical creativity and integrity, for its community spirit, philanthropic endeavors and for its innovative approach to the business of music. 6:15pm. $49.50.

Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex SpunJ’s String Cheese Hay-ho Afterparty Parallel 44 Presents SpunJ’s String Cheese HayHo AfterParty. SpunJ will start the show soon after the String Cheese Incident concert at the amphitheater ends and will play one epically long set of psychedelic rock adventures. 10pm-1am. $15/adv, $20/door.

Northside Bar & Grill Now and Then Local duo playing pop and blues hits. 8-10pm. Free. River’s Place Bill Keale Hawaiian Music, Slack Key Guitar, Pop and Folk 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Birds Of Play Birds of Play is an Americana roots quartet based in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. Their distinct sound is rooted in and inspired by their connection to the land in which they reside. 7-9pm.

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

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

Volcanic Theatre Pub Eddie 9V As far back as he can remember, Capricorn Studios was calling Eddie 9V. As a kid scanning the sleeves of his favorite vinyl records, this fabled facility in Macon, Georgia, was always the secret ingredient, adding a little grit and honey to every song born on its floor. 8-11:59pm. $18.

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

28 Friday

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

Bend Cider Co. Sugar Sweet String Band

With a down-home sound sparking spontaneous joy, homespun ballads and original fiddle dance tunes, this band is guaranteed to take you back to simpler times. Proud Thai Cuisine will also be dishing up some authentic Thai food! Come sit in the garden and enjoy! 6-8pm. Free.

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

Courtney Marie Andrews is a songwriter, poet and painter. The acoustic folk singer just released her new album, "Loose Future." Listen at The Belfry on Sun., Aug. 6, 7-10pm.

Courtney Marie Andrews Twitter

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY, JULY 28

Sunrise Balloon Launch

Gather at R.E. Jewell Elementary to watch hot air balloons launch up into the Central Oregon Sky!

4-10pm Night Glow Begins at COCC

For those that don’t want to rise and shine for the launches, the Night Glow brings another opportunity to view the hot air balloons up close.

5pm Balloon Blast Race at COCC

This obstacle course is for kids aged 3-10. Parents and guardians are encouraged to cheer on the little athletes as they tackle all of the obstacles.

For

Friday, Saturday & Sunday July 28th–30th

SATURDAY, JULY 29

Sunrise Balloon Launch

Gather at R.E. Jewell Elementary to watch hot air balloons launch up into the Central Oregon Sky!

5pm Redmond Night Glow

As the sun sets over Redmond, hot air balloons are set up at Deschutes County Exp Center and inflated for all to see.

SUNDAY, JULY 30

Sunrise Balloon Launch

Gather at R.E. Jewell Elementary to watch hot air balloons launch up into the Central Oregon Sky!

Tickets & More Information, Please Visit

Join

Balloon launches are free to attend!

Tickets are only needed for the Balloon Blast Race and the Night Glow portions of the event.

FRIDAY NIGHTGLOW AT COCC

Bring the whole family down to the Night Glow for an evening of music, food and glow-in-the-dark balloons! Take the kids to the Balloon Blast race for a chance to stack up some points in our Kid’s Rock the Races series. Soak up the summer evening with live music, food trucks and browse our unique vendors at the marketplace. There is something for everyone!

Pack a blanket and spread out as you wait for the sky to darken so the balloons can begin their magical glow.

Check out everything happening at this year’s event below!

4pm - Gates Open!

4-10pm - Shop the Marketplace

5pm - Balloon Blast Kids Race Kicks Off

6-7pm - Live Music – Doc Ryan Trio

7:30-8:30pm - Live Music – Major Dudes

8:30pm - Balloons Rollout

Sunset - Balloons Light Up!

MUSIC

Doc Ryan Trio

American Roots music, pure and simple. Folk, Blues, Rock, Gospel, Alt.

MARKETPLACE

FOOD VENDORS

TOTS!

Durando Creations

Qualiserve

NW Wing Shop

Morsel Maven

Corndog Company of CO

Kona Ice

Dippin Dots

VENDORS

ISoMimo

Moonlit Crystals

Stavoren Trading Co.

Monstera Earrings

Limoncello and Co

Annie’s Jammie’s

Renewal By Andersen

Catman Cellars

Earthy Little Scents

Cascade Salsa

Quality Finishers, Inc.

SillySnailStitchery

El Yunque Creations LLC

A New dye

Bend Teardrop Inc.

Washington Trust Bank

Nature’s Mosaic

Central Oregon Psychic LeafFilter North LLC

Ladd’s Leather

Wondery Art + Adventure School

Artistry by EmiliaRose

Zambalha

Evergreen Virtual Academy

Accident Care Chiropractic

Moon Dance Creations

Major Dudes

Spend the evening dancing and singing to your Steely Dan favorites! Daren McGavren on guitar and vocals, Gary Gallagher on keyboards and vocals, Rob Zipper on Drums and Rob Fincham on Bass and vocals.

Art, unique gifts and more await at our Marketplace!

Find a fun gift, meet local favorites or just browse the makers, businesses and creators featured at this event.

Robert Raper – Fallen Angels

Robert Raper received his commercial pilot’s certificate in 1996 and bought his first balloon in 1995, while learning to fly. Currently he has five balloons and manages his business, High Plains Drifter Hot Air Balloons, LLC (based in Montana). Raper currently lives in North Bend, OR (on the West Coast of Oregon) and usually attends 7-10 events annually, including: Reno, Nevada and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Justin Wilkinson – RE/MAX

Justin Wilkinson is a second generation pilot from Palm Desert, California. He has been flying hot air balloons since the age of 12. He enjoys traveling to hot air balloon events around the world with his wife and three amazing children.

Jayson Kimball – Jitterbug

Jayson Kimball is a second-generation Hot Air Balloon Pilot and owner of Napa Valley Aloft Balloon Rides.

Darren Kling – CAVU

Darren Kling has nearly 30 years of experience flying balloons around the country as well as internationally and is the owner/operator of Big Sky Balloon Company based here in Central Oregon. He offers scenic balloon flights over the spectacular landscape of the high desert and also manages a corporate balloon program for RE/MAX International throughout the Pacific Northwest. Darren has been the Balloon Director at Balloons Over Bend for the past 15 years and enjoys helping to bring his balloon friends into town for this great event. He’s logged nearly 3000 hrs of flight time and maintains a perfect safety record.

Pat Irwin – Battle Born

Pat Irwin has been part of ballooning since 1981, when the Great Reno Balloon Race was created. He attended as a spectator and has held every position you can imagine until becoming a pilot in 1996. Now retired, he is looking forward to more adventures and flying in many new states and countries. Pat is extremely competitive and loves the competitions that come with balloon races. Mostly, he loves to meet new people and just float!

BALLOON BLAST KIDS RACE

Head down early for one of Central Oregon’s favorites: a kids-only obstacle race course. The Balloon Blast combines obstacles with a colorful course, perfect for kids ages 3-10. The exciting obstacles are appropriate for all types of children with a wide range of skill levels to tackle. We encourage parents and guardians to come and cheer their little athletes on as they enjoy being part of a supportive, healthy and motivational community event!

Race Start Times

Ages 3 to 4 — 5:00pm

Ages 5 to 6 — 5:15pm

Ages 7 to 8 — 5:30pm

Ages 9 to 10 — 5:45pm

Register Today at BALLOONSOVERBEND.COM OR ON SITE

COCC • FRIDAY, JULY 28

About PacificSource Kids Rock the Races

Does your kid want to join in on the fun? Are you hoping to instill your love for running and the outdoors? Not only is this race series a chance for little ones to be a part of the “Big Kid” races, but it’s also a great way to teach children how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The races are non-competitive — everyone receives a finishers ribbon and a punch card to earn more prizes. Run multiple races, earn more prizes!

Lay It Out Events proudly supports local nonprofits & community organizations

Every year, a portion of proceeds from Balloons Over Bend is donated to a local nonprofit. In 2023, COCC Foundation will be this year’s beneficiary!

WHO WE ARE

The COCC Foundation supports COCC, and its students, to ensure that the college is a vital, accessible, premier educational resource in Central Oregon.

WHAT WE DO

We provide financial assistance to students, fiscal support for college programs, and occasionally run campaigns in support of needed college capital improvements.

WAYS TO GIVE

Thank you for considering a gift to the Central Oregon Community College Foundation. There are several ways to give, all of which make a great impact.

Since 1955, Central Oregon Community College Foundation scholarships have enabled students to learn new skills, earn technical certificates, complete two-year associate degrees and be prepared to pursue the remainder of their undergraduate studies at a college or university.

We are proud, and exceedingly grateful, that Central Oregon Community College Foundation scholarships have impacted the lives of tens of thousands of Central Oregon students. These students come from all corners of the College district and share one belief that education can change and improve their lives.

Our scholarships provide financial support, but for many students being a scholarship recipient means something more. It means that someone believes in them enough to provide them with the financial resources needed to attend COCC. It means that someone else believes in their dreams.

REDMOND BREWFEST & NIGHT GLOW

We’ve moved to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds to accommodate even more brews, balloons and excitement!

Admission to the Redmond Brewfest and Night Glow is absolutely free, courtesy of the generous support of the Redmond business community. Festival cups and 16oz pours will be available for purchase! Prices and packages will be announced soon!

We are very thankful for our sponsors, including our Title Sponsor, US Bank, and our outstanding beer and cider sponsors who make this event possible.

Because kids love to run like balloons love the sky.

is a proud sponsor of the Balloon Blast Kids Race— and a soaring good time.

Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and prepare for an unforgettable evening of craft brews, delicious food, live music, and the enchanting spectacle of the Redmond Night Glow. Don’t miss the Redmond Brewfest and Night Glow on July 29th at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.

CALENDAR

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy at Craft: Gen Z Showcase Join for a special Friday night show featuring some comics of the Gen Z generation. To top things off, this show is being hosted by Millennial, Steve Harber. Make sure to come down early and enjoy some tasty food from the amazing menu along with a nice cold beverage. 18+. 8-9:30pm.

The Domino Room SoMuchHouse: Shaded live and Joe Pea House and techno music with the Shaded live Oregon debut! Joe Pea is a local legend. -11pm. $25.

Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards

Precious Byrd Precious Byrd is one of the most sought after bands in the Pacific Northwest. Their fresh renditions of modern and classic hits, along with a number of high energy originals, are sure to fill the dance floor and get people on their feet! 6-9pm. $45/adults, free/children 12 and under.

General Duffy’s Waterhole Lonestar

Not every musician has the opportunity to revisit and even potentially improve upon their biggest hits. But on the forthcoming TEN to 1 record, the award-winning band Lonestar—Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar)—are taking a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs. 4-10pm.

Hardtails Bar & Grill The Harris Blake Band

The Harris Blake full 4-piece band “playing songs people know.” 7-10pm. Free.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke

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

Hayden Homes Amphitheater 3 Doors

Down: Away From The Sun Anniversary Tour

This summer, 3 Doors Down celebrate its sophomore album, “Away From The Sun,” by touring the country on their Away From The Sun Anniversary Tour. 7pm. $35-$125.

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.

M&J Tavern Almost Covers from the ‘70s through the ‘90s. 9pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom/Domino

Room/Annex SoMuchHouse: Shaded Live and Joe Pea Shaded has a signature sound. It’s a weaving combination of driving, psychedelic vibes and funk-inspired textures. His sound is undeniable in character, and while his production style is constantly evolving, he always stays true to his Southern California roots. 9pm-2am.

Silver Moon Brewing Cole Robeson

Stand-Up Comedy Special Live Taping Cole

Robeson was a prominent stand-up comedian in the Central Oregon comedy scene before leaving to do comedy all over the country. During the pandemic Robeson started to become a featured guest on multiple podcasts on the Big Laugh Comedy Network before landing his own show on the same network titled: “Journey & Wander” where he documented the trials and tribulations of fellow comics he encountered. 8-10pm.

Thump Coffee - NW Crossing Thump

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

Worthy Brewing Fractal Fractal is bringing its dance party back to Worthy Brewing. Come enjoy a free, all ages, early evening on the deck at Worthy. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes. Fractal plays one long set starting at 6pm. 6pm. Free.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

29 Saturday

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

Bunk+Brew Backyard Ladies Night This one’s for the ladies! A musical night led by the girls, for the girls. . . well, the guys, too. Girls drink half off, all night! Mari, Bella Cooper, Lillian Hanson and Laura De Amorim are teaming up to rock your night. 6-10pm. Free.

Cafe des Chutes A Last Saturday Funky

Soul Patio Dance Party Enjoy natural wines, craft cocktails, grandma pizza and tasty specials at Café Des Chutes! Artist pop-up with Maren Inga and Maren and Laura! Ice Cream pop-up with Grey Duck ice cream. Hand-drawn Polaroid portraits and new zine release with Rachel-Lee Carman at Mud Lake Studios. 5-9pm. Free.

Century Center Heartless Bastards

On the new album “A Beautiful Life,” Heartless Bastards share a wide-eyed and radiant vision for harmonizing a broken world. 7-10pm.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Naomi Fitter: Naughty but Nerdy Comedy Show Naomi Fitter escaped from Ohio at the age of 22. Her soothing midwestern voice has been described as “sexy,” “librarian-like,” and “nearly inaudible.” When she’s not telling jokes, she spends her time studying robots. See the show featuring Sarah Hagan and Bert Walpack. 21+ Strong Content Expected. 8-9:30pm.

Flights Wine Bar Live Music at Flights Come grab a great glass of wine, have an incredible dinner and enjoy live music every Saturday at Flights Wine Bar. 6-8pm. Free.

General Duffy’s Waterhole Countryfied Countryfied is a regional, high energy, country rock-based, variety band. Countryfied has been entertaining audiences of all sizes and ages for over 20 years. Credited with four albums, and seen in concert with such greats ranging from Merle Haggard, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Starship and many more. 7-10pm.

Hardtails Bar & Grill “The Randy Hansen Band” The Jimi Hendrix Experience For nearly three decades, world-renowned guitarist Randy Hansen has acquired a reputation as being one of the best Hendrix impersonators on the “Third Stone from the Sun.” Hansen has released countless discs through the years, featuring Hendrix jams and his own authentic Hendrix-inspired riffage. 8-10pm. $25 (plus fees).

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Trombone

Shorty & Orleans Avenue And Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years. The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful song craft. 6pm. $49.50-$125.

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

Paulina Lake Lodge The Jugulars Classic rock for the entire family! Bring your dancing shoes. 2-5pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions See jazz trio 3 of We for the Saturday Jazz Sessions! 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing One Mad Man One Mad Man is a local multi-instrumentalist/looping artist. -6pm. Free.

Sisters Art Works Ron Artis II & The Truth: Summer Concerts at Sisters Art Growing up in Oahu, Artis developed his multi-instrumental prowess playing in the Artis Family Band. Today, he has played sold-out shows alongside his band “The Truth” performing songs highlighting his influences from deep delta blues and gospel, to northern soul and R&B, with in-depth and and personal lyrics. 7-10pm. $27.50.

The Grove JuJu Eyeball JuJu Eyeball will rock fab Beatles music at The Grove in NW Crossing. Party on! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Watkins Glen’s Midsummer Culmination and Hay-ho Afterparty Parallel 44 Presents Watkins Glen. This band’s shows at Volcanic are already the stuff of legends but this one is extra special because it’s the 50th Anniversary of Watkins Glen SummerJam, the biggest concert of the ‘70s and the namesake. 10pm-1am. $12.75/adv, $15/door.

30 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.

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

Crux Fermentation Project Eric Leadbetter Music Eric Leadbetter Music has a unique and original sound with ghostly echoes from the ‘60s & ‘70s; the golden age of rock. 5-7pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

boygenius Once, when boygenius was on a road trip in Northern California, Phoebe Bridgers asked Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus to listen to a very important song, and pushed play, and got on the freeway headed in the wrong direction. The song was “Trapeze Swinger” by Iron & Wine— about a dead person telling the living how he wants to be remembered. 5:45pm. $55.

Maragas Winery Maragas Winery Live Jazz

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

River’s Place Trivia Sundays at Noon Trivia Sundays at Noon, with UKB Trivia, at River’s Place. This is no ordinary contest, this is a live trivia game show. Bring your bunch and win gift card prizes for top teams! Indoor and outdoor seating available. Great food and drink options available. Noon-2pm. Free. River’s Place Sugar Sweet String Band Oldtime influenced trio based in Sisters, performing homespun ballads and up-tempo fiddle dance tunes. 6-8pm. Free.

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

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

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

31 Monday

The Astro Lounge Musician’s Open Mic

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

Bevel Craft Brewing Avengers Trivia

Bevel will cover all your favorite heroes in this Avengers-themed trivia night! They’ll cover all the Avengers movies—so study up! Themed attire is always encouraged and appreciated! Teams of 6 people max! Top three teams win Bevel gift cards! 6-9pm. Free.

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

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Bunk and Brew

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

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

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

Karaoke Night McMenamins will host karaoke in Father Luke’s every Monday night in July. Don’t miss the fun. Doors open at 6pm. Karaoke from 7-10pm. Come join the show. You are a star! Presented by A Fine Note Music and DJ Jackie J. This event is for 21 and over. 6pm. Free.

Paul Eddy plays all over Central Oregon. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, he grew up in a music loving family inspired by The Beatles, Elvis and Peggy Lee. See him at Austin Mercantile on Thu., July 27, 4:306:30pm.

Courtesy Paul Eddy Facebook

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

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Suttle Lodge’s Big Lawn Concert Series: MAITA Following MAITA’s 2020 debut, Best Wishes, named one of the “50 Albums that Define Oregon,” MAITA’s sophomore LP, “I Just Want To Be Wild For You,” digs into the crippling oxymoron of modernity, the constant bombardment of communication paired with utter disconnection. 6-8pm. Free.

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

1 Tuesday

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Last Call Trivia

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

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

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

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.

2 Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elixir Wine Group Locals Music Night & Open Mic Join a cozy community of appreciative musicians and patrons. Great music, great wine and beer, great times. Small bites available. 6-9pm. Free.

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

Kobold Brewing / The Vault Taphouse

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

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

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

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

Revival Vintage Way Back Whensdays with Revival Vintage: Live ‘Tiny Desk’ Performances, Free Bevs, and Vintage Shopping Every first Wednesday, Revival Vintage will throw it down with Way Back Whensdays! Each month hosts a live Tiny Desk session, performed by a fresh rotation of local musicians and DJs. As per usual, free local bevs and bites will be available, while the vintage shopping will be ample. Head to the Instagram for details (@revivalvintagebend).

First Wednesday of every month, 6-9:30pm. Free.

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show

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

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

MUSIC

The Color Study / Moon Rattles

You won’t want to miss this show! These two bands offer written music backed by a full band and some killer vocals. A mix between upbeat and artsy, they are sure to put on a show. Beer, food carts and fun! July 29, 6-9pm. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 541972-3835. holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Life is a Cabaret Central Oregon’s top performers again take the Tower spotlight to share songs of new beginnings and bright futures. Chosen from favorite Broadway and film productions, these solos and duets help set the tone for a wonderful 2024. Limelight Entertainment’s Brad Ruder hosts. July 28-29, 8pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre. org. $36 (plus $4 historic preservation fee).

Live Music Every Wednesday night through the summer, Bevel is hosting live music nights! Come rock out this Wednesday with local bands Helga and Via For Real! July 26, 6-8pm. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 541-972-3835. holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Localized Thursday Kick off the weekend with localized on the back patio of Immersion! A local vendor, local beer and a local musician playing every Thursday all summer long. Stay connected on Instagram: @immersionbrewing.

Thursdays, 5-10pm. Through Sept. 7. Immersion Brewing, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free. 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.

Country Swing Dance Lessons Come join for partner country swing dancing! They have beginner, advanced and circle dance lessons. Check the Cricket Instagram to find out which it is this week! Come with a partner, or come single and they’ll find you one! See y’all there! Every other Thursday, 7-8pm. Through Dec. 30. CrossEyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4270. Free.

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

Feed Your Head: A night of exhilarating dance performances The talented dancers will take you on a dreamlike journey through different styles and genres, from cabaret to pole to hip-hop and everything in between. In addition, guest performances from local drag, pole performers, Strut Cabaret & Sekse Fit! Sponsored by Ageless Health & Sekse Fit Sat, July 29, 7:30-9pm and Sat, Aug. 5, 7:30-9pm. The Greenhouse Cabaret, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Contact: 541-699-2087. modelcitizensdance@ gmail.com. $30.

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

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.

Silver Swans Adult Ballet Silver Swans Adult Ballet is an open level class for adult learners and dancers. Developed by the Royal Academy of Dance from London, England, this program is based on research into dance practice for older learners, and classes can only be taught by Silver Swans licensed teachers. For ages 40+. Tuesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm and Tuesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm. Through Aug. 29. Academie de Ballet Classique, 162 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4055. dance@abcbend.com. $10/registration fee, $92/session.

ARTS + CRAFTS

4th Friday Artwalk in Sisters Visit the art galleries of Sisters. Meet artists and enjoy beautiful art, good company, music, demonstrations, plus sponsor food venues for during and following the art walk. The Sisters Arts Association was formed in 2015 by a group of artists and supporters. Fourth Friday of every month, 10am-7pm. Through Dec. 22. Downtown Sisters, Hood Avenue., Sisters. Contact: 541-719-8581. events@sistersartsassociation.org. Free.

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

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

Paint Your Pet Paint your pets off of an image of your choice. Gray Duck Art will take your image and turn it into a paint by number, making this class a fun and successful experience for all. Right after purchasing your ticket, please email them the photos of your pet. July 30, 1-5pm. Deschutes Brewery & Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, bend. Contact: 541-382-9242. $70.

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

Wine 101 Workshop Flights Wine Bar presents its Wine 101 Workshop. If you’re new to wine, vino-curious or intimidated when someone uses the word ’tannin’ or ‘mouthfeel,’ this is the workshop for you! Taste five wines while learning how it’s made and what makes a wine red. July 26, 6:30pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@gmail.com. $45 (plus gratuity).

Hawaiian award-winning artist Ron Artis II performs original music with a soulful edge. See Ron Artis II and The Truth at Sisters Art Works on Sat., July 29, 7-10pm.

Courtesy Ron Artis II Instagram

“Super convenient to check in online and get a text when it’s time to come in. Probably the nicest urgent care I’ve ever been to. The entire sta was great and listened to my concerns.” — Jack

Walk-ins welcome | Save time, CHECK-IN ONLINE!

3 Bend-Redmond Locations!

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

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: 541350-0732. bendghosttours@gmail.com. $25.

A Million Dollar Evening with Josh and Matt Altman, Stars of Million Dollar Listing LA Tower Theatre is proud to present an unforgettable evening with renowned real estate moguls, Josh Altman and Matt Altman, at the historic Tower Theater in the heart of downtown Bend. July 27, 5-9pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 323-5331277. Sam.Real@evrealestate.com. $150.

THEATER

Cascades Theatrical Company: Parade

Tony-winning musical “Parade.” Amid religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, witness the enduring power of love and hope. Leo Frank, a Jewish man on trial in 1913 Georgia, fights for justice with the support of a compassionate governor and his devoted wife. Performances July 28 through Aug.6. Thursdays-Sundays, 7:30pm. Through Aug. 10. Cascade Theatrical Company, 148 NW Greenwood, Bend. Contact: 541-389-0803. ctcinfo@cascadestheatrical.org. $39/adults, $35/students and seniors. Improv Class At Bend Institute of Comedy At the Bend Institute of Comedy you’ll improve your listening skills, build confidence, exercise your brain, take more risks, open your heart and expand your mind. Writer-actor-director John Breen (Portlandia, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Wendy and Lucy) will push you to become fearless in your pursuit of creative excellence. Mondays, 6:30-8:30pm. Through July 31. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-410-5866. improvbend@gmail.com. $265

Late Night Plant Shopping & Drag Show

Come catch a themed drag show followed by some late night plant shopping, all for a cause. Each of the four nights donates a portion of sales to a local beneficiary. See website for more details. Plant shopping is free. Drag show is ticketed. Fri, July 28, 7-10pm, Fri, Aug. 25, 7-10pm and Fri, Sept. 29, 7-10pm. The Greenhouse Cabaret, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Contact: 541-699-2084. info@thegreenhousecabaret.com. $20.

Sunriver Stars Community Theater (SSCT) Presents “Trap for a Lonely Man” Sunriver Stars Community Theater (SSCT) is pleased to present, “Trap for a Lonely Man,” a psychological thriller written by Robert Thomas and directed by SSCT Artistic Director, Victoria Kristy. The show will take place at The Door Three Rivers, 56885 Enterprise Drive. Fri, July 28, 7pm, Sat, July 29, 7pm and Sun, July 30, 2pm. The Door (a church in Sunriver Business Park across from Three Rivers School), 56885 Enterprise Rd., Sunriver. $20/adults, $15/children 12 and under.

WORDS

Author Event and Book Launch Event: The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange From Bend author Tracey Lange, the New York Times bestselling author of We Are the Brennans, comes The Connellys of County Down, a story about fierce family loyalty, good intentions gone awry and the consequences of improbable love. Aug. 1, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. $5.

Classics Book Club Join them for classics book club. They will be discussing Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. Aug. 2, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Current Fiction Book Club Join them for current fiction book club. They will discuss Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling Aug. 2, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Harry Potter Birthday Trivia Brush up on all things Harry Potter and Hogwarts . Come in, fill out a trivia questionnaire, share your HP knowledge and win a visit to the restricted section for books and prizes! Divinations revealed by Professor Trelawny between 11-2pm. Polyjuice Potion for those who dare. July 31, 10am-6pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Backpacking Food Workshop Back by popular demand! In our hands-on 90-minute workshop you will learn how to make healthy, light and delicious meals for all of your outdoor adventures. Parking pass and three take-home backpacking meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) included in the price. Reservation required through website. July 30, 9-10:30am. Tumalo State Park, 64120 O. B. Riley Rd, Bend. Contact: 503-888-3674. wildlandguidingcompany@gmail. com. $35.

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.

Cascade Lakes Canoe Tour with Wanderlust Nothing says summer in Bend like paddling on the beautiful Cascade Lakes! With the sun shining above, hit the water, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and begin your canoeing adventure. Saturdays, 7am-12:30pm. Through Jan. 1. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. Contact: 866-320-5024. activites@ juniperpreserve.com. $130.

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.

Cog Wild Daily Mountain Bike Shuttles

Visit the website or call to book shuttles or talk trails. Daily shuttles to Wanoga, Swampy Lakes and Dutchman Flat Sno-Parks at 9am, 10:30am and noon. 7:45am weekend shuttles or as requested with 4 or more riders. Park at Cog Wild and ride back to your car. Tue, July 11, 10:30-11:30am and Noon-1pm and Mondays-Sundays, 9-10am.

Through Oct. 31. COG WILD, 19221 SW Century Dr, Bend. Contact: 541-385-7002. info@cogwild.com. $17/Swampy or Wanoga, $22/Dutchman.

Fit & Float Instructor -led, low-impact workout in the park, followed by an optional float down the Deschutes! Meet new friends and enjoy some fun in the sun! Saturdays, 9-10am. Through Sept. 2. Farewell Bend Park, 1000 SW Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: 707-309-4589. estellecfitness@gmail.com. $18.

Pacific Northwest Classic 2023

Watch over 700 pickleball players compete for a $34k purse! Sponsored by Thump Coffee and hosted by Bend Pickleball Club, Pacific Northwest Classic is one of the region’s most popular pickleball tournaments among amateurs and pros. Join us for fun, fast-paced play served up under the high desert sun! July 26-30, 8am6pm. Pine Nursery Park, 3750 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. Free.

Raft n’ Brew with Cascade Lakes Follow up a 3-mile paddle down the Upper Deschutes with live music, a complimentary beer tasting and light hors d’oeuvres on the Sun Country Tours patio. Different brewery each week! Wed, July 26, 4:30pm, Wed, Aug. 2, 4:30pm, Wed, Aug. 9, 4:30pm and Wed, Aug. 16, 4:30pm. Sun Country Tours, 531 SW 13th St., Bend. $89.

Saturday Morning Coffee Run Come join CORK for a Saturday long run at 9am. The group will meet outside Thump Coffee on York Dr. for a long run. Feel free to run or walk, whatever “long” means to you! Whatever your pace and distance, Thump hopes you’ll join for the run and stay afterward for food and drinks! Saturdays, 9-10am. Thump Coffee - NW Crossing, 549 NW York Dr., Bend. Free.

VOLUNTEER

Annual Deschutes River Cleanup with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Join UDWC for the largest day of stewardship, the Deschutes River Cleanup! River and riparian cleanup activities will take place along the riparian areas of the Deschutes River at six different stewardship sites, and event registration will be open on June 1. Visit the website for details! July 29, 9am-2pm. Farewell Bend Park, 1000 SW Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-382-6103. kmiller@restorethedeschutes.org. Free.

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 needsservers, 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.

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

Grammy and Emmy award-winner Ziggy Marley will be coming to Bend again. He’s performing with Trombone Shorty, above, and Orleans Avenue. Both artists are playing a mix of blues, jazz and reggae at Hayden Homes Amphitheater on Sat., July 29, at 6 p.m.

Courtesy Ziggy Marley Facebook

CALENDAR EVENTS

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.

Weed Warriors Join the Weed Warriors to battle invasive weeds at protected lands! Weed Warriors is a volunteer group that meets several times a month to remove invasive weeds like mullein, spotted knapweed, teasel and Canada thistle from Deschutes Land Trust protected lands. Aug. 2, 9am-Noon. Whychus Canyon Preserve, outside Sisters. Contact: 541-330-0017. event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

Board Game Social Club Join every Thursday for Board Game Social Club! Come in and join other gamers in the game library. Whether you’re new to town, board gaming or both, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with other board game players! See you there!

Thursdays, 6-10pm. Through Dec. 1. Modern Games, 550 SW Industrial way #150, bend. Contact: 541-6398121. hello@moderngamesbend.com. $5.

Paws & Pints Come talk dogs and make friends with other like minded folks! Join us for a hosted beverage and there may even be an adorable puppy or two looking to meet their perfect person! First Wednesday of every month, 5-7pm. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend.

RHS Class of 1978 45th HS Reunion

RHS Class of ‘78-45th Reunion for classmates from ‘ 77-80. Taco Bar, 70’s music with DJ and door prizes throughout night. No host bar and free non-alcoholic beverages. Classmates can invite guests. Please join for fun night of reconnection! Saturdays, 4-9pm. Through Aug. 5. Redmond VFW Hall, 1836 SW Veterans Way, Redmond. Contact: 509-742-0618. rhspanthers1978@gmail.com. $40.

Safe Streets for All People Presentation Local and Dutch experts will exchange ideas for how to include walking, biking and rollin in Bend’s transportation systems. Aug. 1, 6-8pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: info@bendbikes.org. Free.

FUNDRAISING

Bend Pet Express 30th Anniversary

Party On Sunday, July 30, Bend Pet Express will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a party at their eastside location. There will be a BBQ, free swag bags, raffles, a splash zone and much more! All funds raised will be donated to local organizations. July 30, 2-6pm. Bend Pet Express Eastside, 420 NE Windy Knolls Drive, Bend. Free.

Community Conversations: The Gaps in Affordable Housing

There is limited seating to this free community event. Please RSVP through EventBrite to any or all conversations in the series or by the QR code provided. Six conversations anchored in compassion and intended to raise awareness, share knowledge and shatter assumptions surrounding the circumstances of poverty in Central Oregon. July 27, 6:30-8pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

A Night in Ghana:

A Fundraiser Volta

Revival Fundraiser Volta Revival Foundation

Presents the fourth annual Night in Ghana cultural celebration and fundraising event. There will be Ghanaian music, cuisine, goods, an art auction and a children’s carnival! The event has free entry and all donations go toward the VRF shelter for rescuing trafficked children in Ghana. July 28, 4-9pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-410-5866. Free.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Inaugural Car Show Car Show at the Powell Butte Community Center. Enjoy vendor booths, Bootleg Buggy libations, hamburgers and hotdogs and raffles! Reserve online. July 29, 8am-4pm. Powell Butte Community Center, 8404 S. Reif Road, Powell Butte. Contact: 541408-0256. events@pb-center.com. Free.

Apero Hours at Lone Pine Coffee Roasters Apero Hours at Lone Pine with natural wine and small plates. Fridays, 5-8pm and Saturdays, 5-8pm. Lone Pine Coffee Roasters, 910 NW Harriman, Bend. Contact: www.lonepinecoffeeroasters.com. Free.

Bend Farmers Market A vibrant downtown outdoor market with amazing, local, fresh products from Central Oregon. Wednesdays, 11am-3pm. Through Oct. 11. Brooks Alley, downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: bendfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Free.

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

Friday Flower Markets with Central Oregon Flower Collective Stop by for a weekly Friday Flower Market with Central Oregon Flower Collective. This stellar group of local flower farmers will bring you a plethora of floral delights to choose from, including vase arrangements, straight bunches, bouquets, plant starts, farm fresh eggs, herbs and more. Every week at Pomegranate! Fridays, 2-5:30pm. Through Sept. 29. Pomegranate Home and Garden, 120 NE River Mall Ave., Bend. Contact: 541383-3713. hello@pomegranate-home.com. Free.

FAMILY + KIDS

Aloha Friday Fun and Games Build confidence, create opportunities and overcome obstacles. Fridays in Summer 2023. Two-hour sessions of unique fun and games designed to help youth, build skills, learn lessons, create relationships and cultivate qualities vital to success. Ages 5-6 (9-11am). Ages 7-9 (11am-1pm). Ages 10-12 (1pm-3pm). Fridays, 9am-3pm. Through Sept. 1. Lava Ridge Elementary, 20805 Cooley Rd, Bend. Contact: 808-333-2708. mailto:%20kanihos@ alohafridayfoundation.com. $25-$35.

Art Camps for Kids Want real art for your kids?

There are four unique camps to explore. Spend three hours learning different techniques, art history and creating unique work. Classes are Mon. through Wed., taught by a licensed art educator and artist.

Mondays, 9am-Noon Through Aug. 10. ArtSpaz Art Studio, 20894 SE King Hezekiah Way, Bend. Contact: 714-747-2439. karen@artspaz.com. $105.

Musical soloist and recitalist William Hagen will play a classical concert at the Sunriver Music Festival. He’s performed with orchestras all around the world and will be at Tower Theatre on Fri., Aug. 11.

Courtesy William Hagen

Kids Sheet Metal Art Class Learn how to use a torch to cut creative forms from sheet metal. Hammer the artwork into shape and braze on a hook to display it. This exciting class provides a great introduction to the world of metal art and sculpture. All skill levels welcome. Ages 10-17. Tue, June 13, 5:30-7:30pm, Tue, July 18, 5:30-7:30pm and Wed, Aug. 2, 5:30-7:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. makeit@diycave.com. $89.

Nature Writing Summer Camp! The great outdoors have inspired poets, writers and storytellers since time began! In this fun, interactive writing camp, you will read excerpts from some great nature writers, play storytelling games and explore the natural world around to inspire your own stories and poems! Ages 8-11. July 24-28, 10am-Noon. Sawyer Park, 62999 O.B. Riley Road, Bend. Contact: 978-771-4635. claire. brislin@writenowprograms.com. $175.00.

Youth Camp-Healthy Dinners Parents how would you like your child to make healthful dinners this summer? This class is for ages 7-17. Have your child join in this fun 4-day hands-on class where they will learn to make a variety of healthy dinners. July 24-27, 11am-2pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-640-0350. kindredcreativekitchen@gmail.com. $220.

FOOD + DRINK

Café des Chutes Cocktail Hours Every Friday and Saturday, enjoy relaxing evenings on the patio or keep it cool in the air conditioned lounge until 9pm! In addition to the usual menu of pastries, French-inspired baguette sandwiches and excellent craft coffee, they have Grandma Pizza, tasty specials, natural wines and specialty cocktails. Check the event calendar on their website for special happenings that will be popping up during cocktail hours Fridays-Saturdays, 8am-9pm. Through Sept. 30. Cafe des Chutes, 50 SE Scott St., Bend. Contact: 541-668-6114. Free.

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.

Slammin’ Summer Series: Jackson’s Corner and Spider City Brewing Jackson’s Corner and Spider City Brewing team up to bring you a night of local beer and food. Five curated courses with beer pairings. Meet the brewmaster and team of chefs behind this night to remember! July 26, 5-10pm. Jackson’s Corner Westside, 845 NW Delaware Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-647-2198. jacksonscornerbend@gmail. com. $90.

Sunday Brunch Sunday Brunch featuring fresh local, seasonal ingredients and beverage specials. Sundays, 10am-1pm. Eqwine Wine Bar, 218 SW 4th St, Redmond. Contact: 541-527-4419. Free.

BEER + DRINK

Bottle & Board Mondays Join on Mondays at Bend Wine Bar for local, small batch Oregon and Washington wines at the Box Factory. Take $5 off any white wine and cheese, salami or charcuterie board or $10 off a red wine and board. Tasting room for The Winery at Manzanita. Mondays, 2-9pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free.

Learn From the Best: Mixology Lessons

Don’t know your Old Fashioned from your Moscow Mule? Would you like to learn how to craft a great cocktail like a pro? Taught by renowned mixologist Cody Kennedy, these classes will help you master the art of cocktail-making! Wednesdays, 1-2pm. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. $25.

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: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Free.

Summer Fridays Join at the brasserie on Fridays! Come in wearing a Hawaiian shirt to celebrate Aloha Fridays, and get a $1 off your first beer. Headed to the concert? Have pre-concert dinner and drinks at the brasserie, and get a $1 off your first drink! Fri, July 28, 11am-10pm, Fri, Aug. 4, 11am-10pm, Fri, Aug. 18, 11am-10pm and Fri, Aug. 25, 11am-10pm. Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie, 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 541-797-6760. Free.

Suttle Lodge’s Wine on the Deck

Series: Central Vineyards Join every Tuesday this summer for wine made in the Pacific Northwest, poured by some of the best local winemakers, and paired with seasonal small plates from our Skip Kitchen. This week, we will be joined by Central Vineyards, a fantastic winery that is located right here in Central Oregon!

Central Vineyards focuses on hand farmed, small batch, low intervention wines that reflect the high desert climate of the region. Aug. 1, 3-6pm. The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. Contact: 541-323-0964.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Art Works Yoga on the Lawn Five weeks of donation-based classes on the lawn at Sisters Art Works from July 10 - Aug. 14. Taught by Black Butte Chiropractic and YOGA instructors. A $10 donation is recommended, but not required. All levels of yoga expertise are welcome! Mondays, 5-6pm. Through Aug. 14. Sisters Art Works, 204 West Adams, Sisters. Contact: info@sistersfolkfestival.org. Free.

Group Meditation Classes Join Amy Kowalski LMT, Cht Tuesday evenings from 5:307pm for group meditation classes. Drop-ins are welcome. Call 541-330-0334 to reserve your spot today. Amy will guide participants into the present moment through centering breath work and attention to the body for grounding and relaxation. Tuesdays, 5:30-7pm. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-330-0334. info@hawthorncenter. com. $15.

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

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

SUP Yoga It’s that time of year to swap your mat for a SUP (stand-up paddle board)! Sup yoga can be a delightful way to experience nature and invigorate your yoga practice. July 29, 9-10:30am. Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd., Bend. Contact: 775-339-8813. info@stillwateryoga.org. $25.

GUNG HO

By Julianna LaFollette

“Feed

your Head”

with Psychedelic Dance Model Citizens Dance presents three exciting dance performances in Bend

Dance may not be the most popular activity in Bend, but Olivia Mills, the owner of Model Citizens Dance, has high hopes. Professional dance team, Model Citizens, performs sexy, elevated dances that are designed to excite and entertain. This summer, it’s presenting three exhilarating dance performances with its event, “Feed Your Head.”

The three 18+ shows will involve several choreographed dances with a variety of styles, from modern and hip-hop to jazz and cabaret. Each event will also include guest performances from local pole dancers and drag performers.

Mills taught dance for nearly 10 years before starting her team in September. “The choreography I've wanted to actually make is all based around performing,” said Mills. “So, it’s just kind of the next step in my dance career.”

Mills always thought she’d have to move out of Bend to make a living doing what she loves. “Now that there’s more of an artistic scene here, I think we can bring a lot of people to our shows,” she said.

She loves a theme and knew she wanted to arrange a dreamy, psychedelic show for audience members. The name “Feed your Head,” was inspired by the Jefferson Airplane song, “White Rabbit,” which is included in the show with a theatrical, burlesque-style dance.

The other dances will include a wide range of non-traditional genres including EDM and hip-hop. The show features sexy, cabaret-inspired dances that are both exhilarating and interactive. Local dancers, who were invited to the group after an audition process, meet every Monday to practice the rehearsed dances. “We’re kind of trying to raise the bar for dance performances in Bend,” said Mills.

The inclusive group at Model Citizens Dance is made up of 10 women. The dancers vary in style and background, ranging from ages 21 to over 50.

The team will perform two shows at the Greenhouse Cabaret on July 29 and Aug. 5 and end with a big, finale show at Silver Moon Brewing on Aug. 26. The stage will be decorated burlesque-style and the group will end the night with an after party.

July

Top, Olivia Mills applies lipstick infront of the mirror. Bottom, The Model Citizens Dance Team poses together at Greenhouse Cabaret.

Photos by Olivia Mills

CHOW C

It was July 2008 when Jackson’s Corner first opened in the old Delaware Grocery & Ice House location at the corner of Delaware and Broadway between downtown and the Box Factory in Bend. The original idea was to re-envision the historic market offering groceries, grab & go items and coffee. It wasn’t long before more of the market aisles were being replaced with dining tables as folks were gravitating toward the fresh salads, sandwiches, soups, breads and pastas.

Since the beginning, Jackson’s has been inspired by, and committed to, community: the community of local farmers and makers working to provide fresh, locally made foods and goods to Central Oregon and the community itself which embraced the Jackson’s Corner ethos from day one. And it was the community that was top of mind when Jackson’s decided to make some recent changes.

No need to panic, as Jackson’s Corner is still Jackson’s Cornerfarm-forward and community focused.

Chef Jordan Grosser explains that the menu tweaks and other slight changes were made with Jackson’s loyal customers in mind.

“We feel like we know what everybody loves about Jackson’s and we’ve held onto that,” Grosser says. “We have this very casual style that we know people expect and like and that’s not changing.”

Then why change anything at all? Grosser puts it this way: “We’re a company coming out of a pandemic and figuring out how to make it all work.” From the cost of quality local ingredients to higher wages and being able to provide employee benefits such as health insurance, Grosser says it’s about figuring out how to make it all work. “As a business, we are figuring out how to move forward in a healthy way.”

Part of making it all work was becoming more efficient and streamlining things. That meant refining both the brunch and dinner menus. With a focus on the food itself, Grosser and the team of Jackson’s chefs have collaborated on a few new, more composed plates and have figured out ways to help the kitchen be even more productive. Faster service, more counter offerings and more emphasis on its in-house

New Menus At Jackson’s Corner

Slight changes with the community in mind at one of Bend’s most popular places

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

LITTLE BITES

By Nicole Vulcan

New Bar and Restaurant for Brooks Alley

baking and pastry items are at the heart of the shift and Grosser assures fans of Jackson’s Corner that the vibes are the same and there is still plenty of variety to choose from.

Diners will notice something right away when walking in the door, however. The order line has moved from the middle of the restaurant over to the left, alongside the retail market area where the beverages and other grocery items are displayed in coolers. Approaching the counter, you’ll see quite a few more counter offerings – salads, sandwiches, breads, pas tries, cookies, yogurt, granola, etc. that you can order and get immediately.

The new dinner menu, which Grosser describes as more focused and more chef-driven, features several refined small plates, including an Heirloom Tomato salad. Grosser says it’s “bonkers” right now and one of the most popular new items featuring fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella, cucumbers, sweet peppers, shaved onion, basil, dill and a ginger-garlic sauce. The new menu also includes a few inventive pastas and four pizzas for dinner, along with an ala carte chicken and a pork chop with Italian salsa verde. Several creative, inventive, seasonal sides are also available.

Local partnerships are as strong and vibrant as ever and include familiar names such as Home Farm Foods, Grass Valley Beef, Boundless Farmstead, Casad Family Farms and many others.

Achef-owned restaurant and bar is now open in Bend’s Brooks Alley, in the former Wall Street Bar location. Dear Irene opened to the public this week, featuring a dose of hip elegance in its interior as well as the menu. Chef Jonny Becklund and his wife, Irene — the namesake of the space, obvs — opened Dear Irene in Bend after spending a number of years owning and operating a small, tasting-menu restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco.

On the brunch menu itself, take note of the new House Cured Salmon Plate featuring in-house cured salmon along with Jackson’s bakery seeded toast, cream cheese and other fresh ingredients, the Corner Omelet with Boursin cheese and the Eggs in Purgatorio, which is Jackson’s take on a shakshouka with braised tomatoes, sous vide eggs and baked mushroom polenta.

Fifteen years is a lifetime in the often volatile and unpredictable food and restaurant industry, so to be celebrating its 15th anniversary with a few menu updates and streamlined service seems more than appropriate for a true neighborhood venue like Jackson’s. Keep an eye out for more to come in its Slammin’ Summer Series as well.

Becklund’s new menu at Dear Irene isn’t a rotating tasting menu, but it does contain a number of inventive and unexpected dishes that draw from flavors around the world. The five-spice quail meshes a bit of Asian flavor with the Southern flair of fried chicken (or in this case, fried quail), while the foie blond mousse brings in the French penchant for everything duck-related. Presently on the salads menu is a Stone Fruit Salad, which combines seasonal, local flavors of tomato and fruits with a delightful whipped lemon ricotta. Becklund plans to rotate menu items regularly, he told the Source Weekly.

The drinks menu gets creative, too, with the Scandinavian spirit of aquavit lending its flavors to an egg-white cocktail in an up glass, and numerous other drinks offering a twist on the classics. Becklund also brings in his own spirits collection, offering a wide range of booze and a robust list of wines by the bottle.

To say this new bar and restaurant — which only welcomes guests over 21 — is a visual upgrade from the space’s former life would be an understatement. The interior is lush, with lots of velvet and gold accents and an expansive bar. Guests can also sit outside on the patio, where several tables invite plenty of people-watching. Reservations are available and encouraged.

Jackson’s Corner opened in 2008 in the historic Delaware Grocery & Ice House at the corner of Delaware and Broadway near downtown Bend.

New dinner menu at Jackson’s Corner includes four pizzas.

More pastries and baked goods from Jackson’s in-house bakery are among the numerous counter offerings now at Jackson’s Corner.

Photos Courtesy Jackson’s Corner

Nicole Vulcan

SC

No Matter Who Wins, So Do We Have yourself a Barbenheimer weekend

By Jared Rasic

The battle for supremacy between “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer" has finally begun and, while there is a clear winner, it’s not really what you might think. As of this writing, “Barbie” has made $337 million worldwide ($155 million domestic) and “Oppenheimer” has pulled in $174 million globally (and $80.5 million domestically). Those numbers are huge, regardless of which movie was bigger. While Barbie took the “Barbenheimer” win that was jokingly manufactured by social media, the actual winner is a combination of Hollywood and movie theaters that are seeing evidence for the first time since “Top Gun: Maverick” that people will turn up for movies that the cultural relevancy is too strong to miss out on.

Some friends and I turned “Barbenheimer” into an entire weekend, going to Portland to see “Barbie” at the always delightful Cinema 21 and “Oppenheimer” in 70mm at the legendary Hollywood Theater. Yeah, we also fit in brunch at the Portland institution Stepping Stone Cafe and dinner at the Indonesian/Northwest fusion spot Oma’s Hideway (also with a trip to Powell’s Books and Uwajimaya Asian food market in Beaverton), so you could say we totally killed it.

The original joke that turned “Barbenheimer” into such a meme was that both movies, which appeared to be about as different as two movies could possibly be, are coming out on the same day. After watching them both in a double feature, I’ll definitely admit that tonally they are absolutely polar opposites, but thematically they share more in common than most movies ever will.

“Barbie” follows the brilliant Margot Robbie as “Stereotypical Barbie,” the Barbie you imagine when someone tells you to imagine a Barbie, who goes through an existential crisis when she thinks about death for the first time. She leaves Barbieland, the matriarchal society run by all the different kinds of Barbies to travel to the real world and find the child who’s playing with her to basically recapture her mojo. She inadvertently brings her Ken, “Beach Ken” (played by the scene-stealing Baby Goose) who discovers the patriarchy in the real world and thinks it’s pretty fantastic.

“Oppenheimer” follows the soft-spoken Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who helped develop nuclear weapons during the Manhattan Project with the desire

Barbie and Bob are both trapped in a life leading them toward an inglorious ending they want to avoid. They’re also manipulated by outside forces, with Barbie literally being played with by some-

on having a “Barbenheimer” day, to do the opposite of what we did and see “Oppenheimer” first, saving “Barbie” as the dessert for the existential despair that the story of the possible (eventual?) destruction of humanity can only bring. By watching “Barbie” first, the film lifts you into a place that gives you hope for the human race and that maybe all of us will eventually be OK and cohabitate peaceably as a species, whereas “Oppenheimer” reminds us that men love things that explode and will continue to fear the “other” for as long as they continue to romanticize war.

Both movies are truly excellent. “Barbie” is bubblegum fun while also being fiercely intelligent and a rallying cry for women to keep centered with their power, while “Oppenheimer” feels like a swan song for the world that existed before the bomb and a sobering view of the one that exists post WWII and the mass killing of the men, women and children of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both movies are hugely benefiting from the “Barbenheimer” meme, since I guarantee that audiences only interested in seeing one of the films are seeing both just to avoid FOMO.

If social media can keep pitting counter-programming against each other as successfully as they did with “Barbenheimer,” then maybe theaters and movies in general might be OK. I saw teenage girls in “Oppenheimer” and grown-ass men like myself in “Barbie,” so obviously this did something to get people out of their comfort zones and put them in front of movies that, while they might not have initially wanted to see, will eventually be glad that they did. Let’s see an AI program plan something as brilliantly sneaky as that.

“Barbie”

Dir. Greta Gerwig

Grade: A

to end the second World War. Oppenheimer goes through an existential crisis when he realizes the weapons of mass destruction that he helped create wouldn’t be used as a deterrent as much as a show of force for the manufactured might of the American Military Industrial Complex.

one in the real world and Bob having his own brilliance and ego used against him as a puppet by the U.S. military. While the movies are both incredibly different, there are enough little details tying them together to make it a pretty thematically relevant double feature.

I would say for those of you planning

Now playing at Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House

“Oppenheimer”

Dir. Christopher Nolan

Grade: A-

Now playing at Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House, Odem Theater Pub

Oppenheimer and Barbie Put through the wringer of AI.

Courtesy of Starryai

Where There’s Smoke

Bend got its first wildfire smoke of the year from a fire to the west, while a fire to the south destroyed over 80 buildings

By Jack Harvel

Title: Central Oregon Braces for Fire Season Amidst Drought Conditions: How to Prepare and Stay Safe

Subheadline: Central Oregon Gears Up for Challenging Fire Season

Amidst Severe Drought: How to Safeguard Lives and Homes

By ChatGPT

Editor’s note: Because fire season has just begun, and because much of the information about safety during fire season is “evergreen,” we took this opportunity, during our AI issue, to bust out a ChatGPT news story about fire season 2023. We’ve retained the prompts and the various text elements that ChatGPT generated just to let readers see what happens when you generate news this way. But because ChatGPT can’t generate news about new items that are currently breaking, this story is accompanied by a “real” news story about the current fires affecting Central Oregon.

Prompt: Write a roughly 500-word news article about the beginning of fire season in Central Oregon and how people should prepare.

The Bedrock Fire in the Willamette National Forest sent smoke toward Bend on July 24, with air quality being listed as unhealthy by the Environmental Protection Agency. The air quality improved at times but continued to be considered unhealthy for sensitive groups into the next day.

The Bedrock Fire ignited on July 22, though it’s unknown what caused it. By July 25 it raged on almost 5,000 acres halfway between Bend and Eugene. Gusty wind caused the quick growth of the fire to the east and north. The fire remains 0% contained, and the 155 personnel assigned to the fire are scouting for indirect line locations where they can stop the fire. No evacuation notices have been issued, but the Northwest Incident Management Team 13 advised people to be vigilant of notices through the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

In Klamath County, the Golden Fire has already destroyed 43 homes and 43 outbuildings. That fire also started on July 25, and is currently over 2,000 acres and is 9% contained, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshall. Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to mobilize additional resources and staff to stall the fire.

"The Golden Fire has been growing rapidly due to the dry, windy conditions in Klamath County," said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. "With the continued hot, dry conditions on the way for Klamath County, the OSFM is mobilizing additional resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS) to help the local fire service agencies on scene."

The Oregon Department of Forestry declared that fire season started on June 6 in Central Oregon, raising fire danger levels. It also bans fireworks on ODF-protected land, debris burning the use of certain types of ammunition. Oregon’s above-average snowpack helped delay fire season, which typically begins in May and runs through September.

Title: Central Oregon Braces for Fire Season Amidst Drought Conditions: How to Prepare and Stay Safe

Central Oregon, [Date] - As the summer temperatures rise, the vast wilderness of Central Oregon is once again facing the looming threat of fire season. With the region experiencing drought conditions and dry vegetation, authorities are urging residents and visitors to take proactive measures to prepare for potential wildfires and ensure their safety.

Drought Conditions Escalate Fire Risks:

The arrival of fire season in Central Oregon comes at a time when drought conditions have escalated across the state. The lack of significant rainfall has rendered vegetation tinder-dry, creating the perfect environment for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly. Combined with high temperatures and occasional strong winds, even the smallest spark can turn into a devastating inferno.

Emergency Services on High Alert:

Central Oregon's fire and emergency services are already on high alert as they brace for the challenges that lie ahead. Firefighters and first responders have been conducting training exercises and simulations to sharpen their skills and respond swiftly to any fire outbreaks. However, authorities emphasize that firefighting efforts alone cannot combat the threat posed by wildfires. The community must come together to prepare, prevent, and mitigate fire risks in order to safeguard lives, properties, and the pristine environment.

Preparation is Key:

In the face of the impending fire season, residents and visitors are urged to take the following steps to prepare:

1. Create Defensible Space: Clear vegetation and debris from around homes and structures, creating a defensible space of at least 30 feet. This minimizes the risk of a fire reaching your property.

2. Trim Trees and Shrubs: Trim branches and shrubs within 15 feet of buildings to prevent fire from easily spreading from ground level to the tree canopy.

3. Dispose of Yard Waste Properly: Avoid burning yard waste during fire season. Instead, use local waste disposal services or composting facilities.

4. Check Smoke Alarms: Ensure smoke alarms are in working order and have fresh batteries. Smoke alarms are critical in providing early warning in the event of a fire.

5. Create an Evacuation Plan: Develop and practice an evacuation plan with all household members. Know multiple escape routes and have a designated meeting place.

6. Pack an Emergency Kit: Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit containing essential supplies like food, water, medications, first aid items, and important documents.

7. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on weather forecasts and fire updates. Stay informed about evacuation orders and community alerts.

8. Be Cautious with Fire: If permitted, use campfires and outdoor grills responsibly. Always fully extinguish fires before leaving the area.

9. Vehicle Maintenance: Regularly inspect vehicles for potential fire hazards, such as dragging chains or faulty exhaust systems.

10. Report Fires Immediately: If you spot a wildfire or signs of smoke, report it immediately to the local fire department or emergency services.

Community Efforts:

Preparation and prevention extend beyond individual actions. Local communities can work together to establish Firewise communities, where residents collaborate to reduce fire risks collectively. This involves organizing community cleanup events, sharing resources, and fostering awareness about fire safety.

Conclusion:

As Central Oregon enters fire season amidst drought conditions, preparedness and vigilance are paramount. By taking proactive measures and being responsible stewards of the environment, residents and visitors can contribute to minimizing the potential devastation caused by wildfires. Remember, every action counts when it comes to preserving lives, property, and the breathtaking natural beauty of Central Oregon.

Courtesy of Inciweb

Courtesy of Fotor AI Image Generator

AI art generator prompt used: A wildfire burning at the edges of a city in the Pacific Northwest

GO HERE

By Julianna LaFollette

Debris in the Deschutes

Locals volunteer to pick up trash along the river

Warm weather brings more activity to the Deschutes River and with that, oftentimes litter and debris. The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council invites locals to help protect and maintain the river with the Annual Deschutes River Cleanup on July 29.

The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council protects and restores the watersheds of the entire Deschutes River, hosting events that help people get out and volunteer as well as restoration projects that help maintain the river and the wildlife living in it.

The last full-capacity river cleanup the organization held was in 2019, when volunteers picked up close to 2,600 pounds of garbage from the river. This year’s event kicks off at 9am at Farewell Bend Park. The river cleanup itself takes place along five different areas, including Farewell and Riverbend parks, La Pine State Park, First Street Rapids Trail and Tumalo State Park.

Some participants will work along the riverbanks, pulling out weeds and picking up trash. Others will be on paddle boards, joining scuba divers to ensure their safety and helping with garbage removal. According to Kolleen Miller, education director at Upper Deschutes, the clean-up will take several hours.

While the organization’s restoration efforts have provided protection to river banks and river habitats, trash and debris is still finding its way into the river. High usage in areas like Riverbend and Farewell parks, Kolleen said, is the main source of a lot of the debris found during the cleanup.

“At the river cleanup, we pull out hundreds of pairs of sunglasses, flip-flops. . . cell phones,” Miller said. They’ve even found more challenging items like a wood stove, a safe and a canoe.

In addition to making sure that people use river access points, Miller advises that the most important way to prevent trash from getting into the river is for people to secure their belongings.

This year’s event already has 100% registration, with 200 volunteers joining for the cleanup. While it has already reached its goal for volunteers, Miller said locals are still welcome to come out, talk to vendors and help with certain cleanup tasks. “We hope that people can enjoy the river, but recognizing it is a home for wildlife and that they can respect it and protect it,” said Miller.

Annual

Divers and volunteers at the 2017 river cleanup show their findings.

Courtesy Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Instagram

Brewing! This program will be an opportunity summer session of What’s Brewing! This program will be an opportunity to hear from the Deschutes County Commissioners to hear from the Deschutes County Commissioners and Administrator about key policy topics impacting and Administrator about key policy topics impacting local businesses. local businesses.

CRAFT Is the World Ready for an A.I.P.A?

Machine learning not yet impacting human drinking

By Brian Yaeger

My young son is so freaked out from all the stories about AI that he overhears on NPR while I’m chauffeuring him around, he’s having nightmares about the robots obliterating the human race. While self-driving Tesla crashes (273 last year!) and chatbots that use machine learning to learn to act like Nazis and deepfake videos that will make us distrust our own eyes are all part of our impending Huxleyan technocratic state, it seems there’s a reason that — for now — no episode of Black Mirror has focused on the exciting, potentially frightening, new world of beer.

That’s not to say no one has explored AI’s potential applications to the realm of brewing. Brian Faivre joined Deschutes Brewery’s brewing team in 2004 and worked his way up to being the brewmaster in 2011 before departing in 2021, in part to become the founder and lead programmer of The Brewery Pi Project. Faivre, who earned his B.S. in computer science, spent part of his time at Deschutes focused on machine learning applications in the brewing space. (One claim listed on his LinkedIn profile says he “utilized machine learning to reduce fermentation cycle times by 17%.”)

The fact is, we like calling beer “hand crafted” as if brewers actually handle mash paddles, but that primitive tool is hardly reached for these days. GoodLife Brewing uses Precision Fermentation’s BrewIQ, a combo of hardware and software that integrate fermentation tanks to streamline the process. And even fairly small Bridge 99 Brewing’s brewhouse uses a Brewmation (Brew + Automation, get it?). Many brewers are able to manage their beers remotely from their smartphones. Given that brewing is highly mechanized, is it ready for machine learning?

In a “Craft Beer & Brewing” article in 2020, Faivre said, “A lot of these machine-learning concepts were now accessible to us, and were more mainstream. Open-source software was growing more and more accessible…In a handful of the transitions — fermentation, free-rise, diacetyl rest, and cooling — a brewer or a lab tech has to go out, get a sample, prep the sample, and do that analysis. If the fermentation hasn’t quite reached our expected parameters, then we wait (but that) extra time reduces our potential capacity.”

His research became the open-source Brewery Pi Project, which has yet to permeate the industry. Today, Tim Gossack, Deschutes’ brand new director of

brewery operations, explains that there’s no AI at Deschutes at the moment.

“They tried to launch some AI work with Microsoft around 2019, " said Gossack. "We do have a lot of data sources that provide us with the information that would’ve gone into AI to improve efficiencies in the brewhouse. We use (Brewery Pi) a bit but it’s basically data logging and using it to compare things across time to see how they’ve changed.”

While Hal 9000 isn’t running the brewhouse, Gossack does believe there are “absolutely” potential applications for AI. “When you talk about competitive systems that are used to do the same thing over and over again, AI could optimize them. There are systems being built that could support that kind of an operation.”

When Gossack worked at the then MillerCoors-owned (now Molson Coors-owned) brewery in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, he explains there were, “integrated systems talking to each other—in tanks, lines and motor control panels. They actually talk to each other and spit out work orders to humans. As this stuff advances, especially if the machines can integrate and find the data, I absolutely think that AI could run a brewing department.”

Gossack was quick to add, “No brewer’s gonna want to hear me say that.”

Faivre, who’s now the director of brewing and distilling operations at Atlanta-based New Realm Brewing, said he was recently invited to present to the annual American Society of Brewing Chemists conference about his research in beer’s AI applications. But it was virtually the same presentation he’d given six years ago.

“Look at ChatGPT. It seems like there’s more of an appetite now that (AI has) become more approachable for the general public.”

That said, Gossack points out, “Over time, with capital expenditure, you can have a system with (machine learning) built-in, but right now it’s cost prohibitive.” Plus, he adds of such machines, “At least they’re not drinking the beer.”

The image to the right was generated with AI technology using the prompt, "Oregon craft beer AI brewing an IPA."

Courtesy Starryai

We’re excited to invite the Central Oregon business community to our

We’re excited to invite the Central Oregon business community to our summer session of What’s

THE REC ROOM

Crossword “Thinking Mans Music”

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

ACROSS

1. Water color

5. Rata annoyer

9. Noodle soup

14 . Rumple

15. Stereotypical lab assistant's name

16. Professeur's spot

17. Group Sigmund played in when not analyzing dreams?

19. Vodka that comes in Salted Karamel and Strasberi flavors

20. Singer with the 2022 album "SOS"

21. Funky emanation

22. Cavatappi's shape

23. Jump in a pairs routine

24. "Get off of that!"

25. Group B.F. played in when not designing an eponymous box?

30. Tallow component

31. Supports for shorts

32. "Get cracking!"

34. Some sudoku numbers

36. Warm up in the microwave

37. Tennis player Rybakina

39. One with a lot of talent: Abbr.

40. Title of Anastasia's father

42. Congresswoman in the Squad

43. Group that Jean played in when not working on cognitive development?

48. Moonbeams

49. Bowery neighbor

50. Fed chair Powell

53. Cuba or Mallorca, e.g.

54. Compete (for)

57. 1972 Bill Withers hit that begins "My friends / Feel it's their appointed duty"

58. Type of music played the artists in the starred clues?

60. Absolute bottom

61. Actress Suvari

62. "Hard ___!" (captain's order)

63. Strong winds

64. Religious splinter gorup

65. Features of a sauna

DOWN

1. Police boxes?

2. Geeks Who Drink event

3. Annapolis campus: Abbr.

4. Pop a question

5. Steel construction piece

6. Time-tested

7. Run of shows

8. Chicago O'Hare's IATA letters

9. Unsolicited manuscript sender's hope

10. Combat duty

11. Othello was one

12. Scatter Fitzgerald

13. With 50-Down, stage name Carl used when not studying the collective unconscious?

18. Very sly

22. The Constitution, for one

23. Money left on a table

24. Card in Uno

25. Video game character in a green hat and overalls

26. Quidnunc

27. What an on-screen arrow may mean

28. It'll keep you going

29. Actress Saoirse

30. Mean comment

33. Voting district

35. Clambake clams

36. Veers suddenly

38. Spanish wolf

41. Seeing problem

44. Wallace's claymation canine

45. Working as a team

46. Pussy picture on the internet

47. Persian potentate

50. See 13-Down

51. Old Testament brother

52. Commies, colorfully

53. "All right, that scans"

54. Meadow mouse

55. Rapper with the Twitter handle @finallevel

56. Barely makes out

58. Midol treats it

59. Rule that Gandhi opposed

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of July 24, 2023

Difficulty Level

We’re Local!

Questions, comments or suggestions for our local puzzle guru?

Puzzle for the week of July 24, 2023

Difficulty Level:

Email Pearl Stark at pearl@bendsource.com

© Pearl Stark mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

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

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

H O R T E D G Y exactly once.

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters S H O R T E D G Y exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “I was used to heat but this place was so _________ were bribing the _______.”

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “I was used to heat but this place was so _________ were bribing the .”

— Irvine Welsh

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will “I was used to heat but this place was so _________ were bribing - Irvine Welsh

Answer for the week of July 17, 2023

"Oh,

"Oh, the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne."

Bryan Procter

Stark

"Oh, the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a - Bryan Procter © Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne."

— Bryan Procter

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There are two kinds of holidays: those created by humans and those arising from the relationship between the sun and earth. In the former category are various independence days: July 4 in the US, July 1 in Canada, July 14 in France, and June 2 in Italy. Japan observes Foundation Day on February 11. Among the second kind of holiday is Lammas on August 1, a pagan festival that in the Northern Hemisphere marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. In pre-industrial cultures, Lammas celebrated the grain harvest and featured outpourings of gratitude for the crops that provide essential food. Modern revelers give thanks for not only the grain, but all the nourishing bounties provided by the sun’s and earth’s collaborations. I believe you Leos are smart to make Lammas one of your main holidays. What’s ready to be harvested in your world. What are your prime sources of gratitude?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For many of us, a disposal company regularly comes to our homes to haul away the garbage we have generated. Wouldn't it be great if there was also a reliable service that purged our minds and hearts of the psychic gunk that naturally accumulates? Psychotherapists provide this blessing for some of us, and I know people who derive similar benefits from spiritual rituals. Getting drunk or intoxicated may work, too, although those states often generate their own dreck. With these thoughts in mind, Virgo, meditate on how you might cleanse your soul with a steady, ennobling practice. Now is an excellent time to establish or deepen this tradition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I'm wondering if there is a beloved person to whom you could say these words by Rumi: “You are the sky my spirit circles in, the love inside love, the resurrection-place.” If you have no such an ally, Libra, the coming months will be a favorable time to attract them into your life. If there is such a companion, I hope you will share Rumi’s lyrics with them, then go further. Say the words Leonard Cohen spoke: "When I’m with you, I want to be the kind of hero I wanted to be when I was seven years old."

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your theme for the coming weeks is "pleasurable gooseflesh.” I expect and hope you’ll experience it in abundance. You need it and deserve it! Editor Corrie Evanoff describes "pleasurable gooseflesh" as "the primal response we experience when something suddenly violates our expectations in a good way.” It can also be called "frisson"—a French word meaning “a sudden feeling or sensation of excitement, emotion, or thrill.” One way this joy may occur is when we listen to a playlist of songs sequenced in unpredictable ways—say Mozart followed by Johnny Cash, then Edit Piaf, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Queen, Luciano Pavarotti, and Yellow Magic Orchestra. Here’s your homework: Imagine three ways you can stimulate pleasurable gooseflesh and frisson, then go out and make them happen.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Fire rests by changing,” wrote ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. In accordance with astrological omens, I ask you to meditate on that riddle. Here are some preliminary thoughts: The flames rising from a burning substance are always moving, always active, never the same shape. Yet they comprise the same fire. As long as they keep shifting and dancing, they are alive and vital. If they stop changing, they die out and disappear. The fire needs to keep changing to thrive! Dear Sagittarius, here’s your assignment: Be like the fire; rest by changing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s ample scientific evidence that smelling cucumbers can diminish feelings of claustrophobia. For example, some people become anxious when they are crammed inside a narrow metal tube to get an MRI. But numerous imaging facilities have reduced that discomfort with the help of cucumber oil ap -

plied to cotton pads and brought into proximity to patients’ noses. I would love it if there were also natural ways to help you break free of any and all claustrophobic situations, Capricorn. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to hone and practice the arts of liberation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone,” said Aquarian author Gertrude B. Stein. She was often quirky and even downright weird, but as you can see, she also had a heartful attitude about her alliances. Stein delivered another pithy quote that revealed her tender approach to relationships. She said that love requires a skillful audacity about sharing one’s inner world. I hope you will put these two gems of advice at the center of your attention, Aquarius. You are ready for a strong, sustained dose of deeply expressive interpersonal action.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to the International Center for Academic Integrity, 95 percent of high school students acknowledge they have participated in academic cheating. We can conclude that just one of 20 students have never cheated—a percentage that probably matches how many non-cheaters there are in every area of life. I mention this because I believe it's a favorable time to atone for any deceptions you have engaged in, whether in school or elsewhere. I'm not necessarily urging you to confess, but I encourage you to make amends and corrections to the extent you can. Also: Have a long talk with yourself about what you can learn from your past cons and swindles.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are about to read a thunderbolt of sublime prophecies. It’s guaranteed to nurture the genius in your soul's underground cave. Are you ready? 1. Your higher self will prod you to compose a bold prayer in which you ask for stuff you thought you weren't supposed to ask for. 2. Your higher self will know what to do to enhance your love life by at least 20 percent, possibly more. 3. Your higher self will give you extra access to creativity and imaginative powers, enabling you to make two practical improvements in your life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 1991, John Kilcullen began publishing books with “for Dummies” in the title: for example, Sex for Dummies, Time Management for Dummies, Personal Finance for Dummies, and my favorite, Stress Management for Dummies. There are now over 300 books in this series. They aren’t truly for stupid people, of course. They’re designed to be robust introductions to interesting and useful subjects. I invite you to emulate Kilcullen’s mindset, Taurus. Be innocent, curious, and eager to learn. Adopt a beginner’s mind that’s receptive to being educated and influenced. (If you want to know more, go here: tinyurl.com/TruthForDummies)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "I could be converted to a religion of grass," says Indigenous author Louise Erdrich in her book Heart of the Land. "Sink deep roots. Conserve water. Respect and nourish your neighbors. Such are the tenets. As for practice—grow lush in order to be devoured or caressed, stiffen in sweet elegance, invent startling seeds. Connect underground. Provide. Provide. Be lovely and do no harm." I advocate a similar approach to life for you Geminis in the coming weeks. Be earthy, sensual, and lush. (PS: Erdrich is a Gemini.)

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I hereby appoint myself as your temporary social director. My first action is to let you know that from an astrological perspective, the next nine months will be an excellent time to expand and deepen your network of connections and your web of allies. I invite you to cultivate a vigorous grapevine that keeps you up-to-date about the latest trends affecting your work and play. Refine your gossip skills. Be friendlier than you’ve ever been. Are you the best ally and collaborator you could possibly be? If not, make that one of your assignments.

Homework: What single good change would set in motion a cascade of further good changes? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE THIRD ACT A COLUMN ON AGEISM AND AGEING

Epigenetics

By Ellen Waterston

This month, as it has for the past 36 years, the Summer Fishtrap Gathering in Joseph, Oregon, assembled a faculty of notable writers who offered a week’s worth of genre-specific workshops for registered participants. The authors also anchored evening readings and panel discussions open to the public. The year 2023’s impressive lineup included Craig Childs, Debra Magpie Earling, Jamie Ford, Perrin Kerns, Anis Mojgani, Rena Priest, Kim Stafford and Luis Urrea. No wonder nearly 200 attendees made the trek.

The Summer Gathering is always theme-based and this year “Generations” was the center pole. Guest authors read about pivotal incidents in the life of their family, others about wrongs to their people or culture, still others about a deceased parent finally recognized for who they were, or the belated realization that an ancestor had led a life that deserved recount ing. A sense of regret, of opportunities missed pervaded many of the presentations.

Regret is generally defined as pain or distress over something done or left undone. As a child, that notion was underscored in unison at Episcopal church every Sunday.

“We have left undone those things which we ought to have done and we have done those things which we ought not to have done and there is no health in us.” Curiously, there was a decline in the use of the word “regret” from the 1950s until the 2000s, according to (what else) Google, at which point mentions started increasing rapidly. Could that surge be due to the glut of Baby Boomers reaching a certain age and looking back at their lives? At family or friends neglected? Opportunities missed? Harsh words not retracted?

In her 2012 New York Times article, “Praise Is Fleeting, but Brickbats We Recall,” Alina Tugend wrote, “My sisters and I have often marveled that the stories we tell over and over about our childhood tend to focus on what went wrong. I assumed that we were unusual in zeroing in on our negative experiences. But it turns out we’re typical.”

Tugend references an article titled, “Bad is Stronger than Good” co-authored by Roy F. Baumeister, a professor of social psychology at Florida State University.

He writes, "Bad emotions, bad parents and bad feedback have more

impact than good ones. Bad impressions and bad stereotypes are quicker to form and more resistant to disconfirmation than good ones. As with many other quirks of the human psyche, there may be an evolutionary basis for this. Those who are more attuned to bad things would have been more likely to survive threats and, consequently, would have increased the probability of passing along their genes.” And, by the way, that includes emotional genes.

Please welcome author Jamie Ford to the stage. He is the great-grand son of Nevada mining pioneer, Min Chung, who emigrated from Hoiping, China, to San Francisco in 1865, where he adopted the West ern name, Ford, “Thus confusing count less generations,” quips the author.

Ford’s debut nov el, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list. The genesis of his latest novel, “The Many Daugh ters of Afong Moy,” also a best seller, inspired his comments at this year’s Fishtrap. As the result of exploring his ancestors’ responses to adversity, he turned to epigenetics (aka emotional DNA) for answers. We’ve likely all heard or have witnessed the manifestations of generational trauma — unfounded fears, obsessions, addictions — but Ford believes we have neglected the epigenetic evidence and power of generational joy and optimism. Yes, it takes focus and constant practice, given how tenacious the negative is, but the rewards of that effort are what the world needs now. As a newcomer to mountain biking, he offered an analogy he had apparently learned the hard way. When mountain biking, he explained, you can bet a large rock will appear in the trail. If, when moving at the speed of life, you focus on the rock, you will hit it. If you focus on the path around it, you won’t.

Ford says to start with forgiving… ourselves. “Forgiveness,” he says, “is giving up all hope for a better past.” I don’t know about you, but the exquisite and elusive truth contained in that definition stops me in my tracks. Once realized, as Ford says, then a better future can unfold. What you choose to focus on is the experience you will have. So, what’s not to like about choosing optimism and, thereby, scripting a joyous emotional DNA for generations to come.

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Artificial Intelligence has the potential to touch every part of our lives — including the ways in which we shop for, buy and sell homes. In fact, your local real estate broker may already be using AI. AI promises to make it easier to buy and sell properties, and faster than ever before. Similar to the introduction of the internet and websites like Zillow, the AI revolution is moving forward quickly.

Enhanced online experiences

From virtual staging and viewing to property valuation, AI is helping both buyers and sellers. Many real estate apps have already integrated some AI tools and algorithms. For instance, did you know AI can help you fine-tune your search results on a much more micro level than ever before? Instead of searching for a wide range of three-bedroom homes, you can limit your search based on nearby schools or how much sunlight enters the home.

AI also has the potential to save time and money through enhanced capabilities for virtual staging and touring. According to the Association of Realtors, 97% of homebuyers have used the internet to search for homes. AI

can make this web-browsing activity more comprehensive and immersive through special 3D modeling, which is a step up from Matterport-like online tours with the ability to drill down to minute details and more lifelike experiences. For the seller, AI can also help to stage these homes virtually, which may increase the value of the home.

Precise property valuations

While nothing can replace the experience and market knowledge of your real estate broker, AI is helping us find and analyze complex data sets including historical sales data, market trends, comparable properties and even factors like neighborhood developments and infrastructure. As Bend grows and changes, the ability to quickly adapt value with the consideration of new developments, revitalizations and school boundaries is more important than ever. AI doesn’t take over the home valuation process; rather, it helps us analyze various influencing factors that might not yet be fully understood. By leveraging AI for property valuation, sellers can gain a competitive edge in the market, optimize their listing prices and attract potential buyers more effectively.

Expertise & personal consultation

Many people worry the power of AI could replace humans and their jobs, but real estate brokers will remain necessary. While AI has decreased the need for physical open houses and in-person meetings, real estate brokers still hold incredible value in negotiation and representation.

As well, they add a personal touch and consultation of which AI is not capable.

Mitch Robinson, president of “Real Estate News,” said in an episode of RealtyHack, that, "There are no signs real estate agents are going away. They’re the most important local businessperson you have in your community."