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Put These Fall Festivals on Your Calendar

Summer may get all the buzz, but fall in Central Oregon is a hidden gem of a season. Aside from being peak hiking and mountain biking season, fall also brings dynamic cultural events and festivals to the high desert. From the internationally renowned Sisters Folk Festival to the BendFilm Festival, Central Oregon is buzzing with events you won’t want to miss. As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, these gatherings offer a chance to support the community in diverse events steeped in creativity and culture.

Fresh Hops on the Pond

October 4 | Bend

Fresh Hops On The Pond 2024 is set to take place on Friday, October 4 from 11 am to 8 pm, featuring live music and fresh hop beer from over 20 different breweries. Enjoy the day outside on the lawn or patio at Bend Brewing Bend Brewing (1019 NW Brooks St.) while sampling the fresh hop beers of the season. The event is open to all ages and pets, making it a family-friendly event. Learn more about Fresh Hops on the Pond.

Bend Fall Festival

October 4-6 | Bend

The 2024 First Interstate Bank Bend Fall Festival is set to be a celebration of the harvest season with art, music, and family-friendly activities. The festival will feature a large-scale recycled art installation, live music, a family play zone, a harvest market, and a business showcase. The festival is made possible through grant funding from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund. Read more about Bend Fall Fest.

BendFilm Festival

October 10-13 | Bend

The BendFilm Festival, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, is again turning Bend into a vibrant hub for independent cinema. During four days, this event draws filmmakers and enthusiasts from across the country to immerse themselves in a carefully curated selection of feature and short films. With more than a thousand film submissions annually and screenings in various local theaters, including a historic downtown cinema, BendFilm is sure to inspire anyone passionate about the arts. Learn more about the festival here.

Sisters Harvest Faire

October 12-13 | Sisters

For more than 40 years, the Harvest Faire has been a cherished Sisters tradition, bringing together diverse artisan vendors and their high-quality handcrafted items to celebrate the changing seasons. Attendees will also enjoy local food and live music. It’s the perfect opportunity to kickstart your holiday shopping with memorable gifts. Head to downtown Sisters and partake in a tradition that celebrates the spirit and artistry of its community. Click here to see more.

Bend Venture Conference 2024

October 17-18 | Bend

The Bend Venture Conference (BVC) is a two-day event uniting entrepreneurs and investors to celebrate Central Oregon’s start-up community. As the Pacific Northwest’s longest-standing angel investment conference, BVC has facilitated over $12 million in investments, catalyzing additional funding. With 500+ attendees, 50 investors and 65 innovative companies across growth, impact and early-stage categories, BVC offers extensive exposure. Attendees enjoy company pitches, networking and insights from emerging entrepreneurs and industry leaders, making it a must-attend event for innovation enthusiasts. More about the Bend Venture Conference.

Bend Design 2024

October 17-18 | Bend

Bend Design brings together creative minds, thought leaders and action-takers in visual storytelling, AI,, graphic activism, branding and more. This two-day conference offers talks, workshops, films and immersive experiences, encouraging designers to push boundaries and envision the future. Emphasizing the vital role of reality in design, Bend Design unites diverse speakers to highlight design’s transformative power. Attendees will gain insights from various disciplines, leaving with a broader understanding of creative pursuits. Learn more about Bend Design 2024.

Sisters Folk Festival 2025

September 26-28, 2025 | Sisters

Sisters Folk Festival, a landmark event with a 25-year history, is a one-of-a-kind music and community experience. The festival takes over the charming downtown Sisters, featuring seven stages showcasing 33 artists from around the world. Beyond the incredible live music, attendees can engage in intimate artist-led workshops, forging genuine connections between artisans and audiences. It’s a transformative weekend where music, community, and creativity unite in a magical setting. All the details about the Sisters Folk Festival.

Click here to see more Central Oregon events curated by Bend Magazine. 

The Best Holiday Events in Central Oregon

The holiday season in Central Oregon is full of festive events and traditions. Snap pictures with Santa in the morning and attend a holiday market from local makers in the afternoon. December nights are filled with local theater and colorful holiday light displays. Whether you prefer running a festive 10K or riding a sleigh at local resorts, there’s an event for everyone. Discover the holiday magic in Central Oregon.

Experience the Bend Christmas Parade

The annual Bend Christmas Parade will take over the streets of downtown on December 2, 2023, with the theme “The Lights of Christmas.” Grand Marshal Trish Smith and family lead the festive spectacle, organized by the dedicated volunteers of the Bend Christmas Parade Committee. Since its inception in the 1950s, the parade has evolved into a beloved tradition that marks the start of the holiday season each year. Join in the family fun, be on the lookout for a Santa sighting and let “The Lights of Christmas” brighten downtown Bend. Click here for more information.

Bend Christmas Parade | Holiday Events in Central Oregon

Where to Shop for Gifts at Central Oregon Artisan Markets

Local artisans showcase their creativity, offering an array of seasonal decor and one-of-a-kind gifts. Stroll with a cup of hot chocolate or a hot toddy in hand as most markets feature food trucks, live music and festive libations. Find local gift-shopping experiences at holiday markets across Central Oregon.

Bend Moonlight Market: Naughty or Nice | December 1

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, everyone is invited to the Bend Moonlight Market. Local makers, resellers, and​ artists showcase their work alongside​ a flash tattoo station, live music, food and drink stations and plenty of holiday cheer. Free entry and all ages are welcome to help kick off the shopping season. Click here for more information.

First Friday Holiday Market | December 1

Explore local craftsmanship at The Local Assembly’s First Friday Holiday Market, featuring a thoughtfully curated ​collection of artisan-made products, including clothing, art, jewelry and handmade goods. Support local talent and capture the spirit ​of the season. Click here for more information.

Holiday Makers Market | December 2

Jumpstart your holiday shopping at Bevel Craft Brewing’s Holiday Makers Market. Browse 20 local vendors, sip on ​craft ​beer and treat yourself to tasty bites from food carts. Spread cheer by donating an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and enjoy a free beer from Bevel in return. Smile for a photo with Santa and let him know your Christmas wishes. Click here for more information.

Schilling’s 2023 Holiday Makers Market | December 2 and 3

Schilling’s Garden Market presents its 4th Holiday ​Makers Market, showcasing fresh wreaths, artisanal goods and treats from local vendors. Meet Santa, enjoy live holiday music and participate in a​ vendor-donated raffle. This market takes place outdoors. So rain, shine or snow, it promises to be a winter holiday experience. Click here for more information. 

Schilling’s 2023 Holiday Makers Market | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of Schilling’s Garden Market

Magical Markets of Merriment | December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17

Somewhere That’s Green, Bend’s beloved plant shop, is hosting merry markets for three weekends in a row. The shop will transform into a bustling hub of local artisans and makers, creating a magical ambiance for holiday shoppers. Get swept up in the holiday spirit with whimsical Sandra Claus encounters, freshly baked cookies and delightful butterbeer. With free entry and parking, it’s the perfect opportunity to support local businesses and check off your holiday gift list. Click here for more information.

Craft-O! Holiday Bazaar | December 9 and 10

Craft-O! is the ultimate destination for locally crafted holiday shopping, hosted by The Workhouse, Gathered Wares, ​Mud Lake Studios, Furnish Hope & Home and Desert Rose Cactus Lounge. Peruse offerings from around 50 talented artisan vendors, and warm up at Cafe Des Chutes with boozy lattes, hot chocolate or a glass ​of wine. Click here for more information. 

Holiday Spirit Market | December 16

Experience ​the joy of the season at the inaugural Holiday ​Spirit Market. Delve into a haven of meaningful ​gifts featuring healing crystals, handcrafted jewelry, ceremonial cacao, natural perfume, knits, wood, leather, vintage goods and more. Redefine gifting this year and explore a diverse array of thoughtful treasures. Click here for more information. 

Seasonal Theater and Music in Central Oregon

Throughout the season, Central Oregon theaters and venues brim with festive holiday spirit. Whether you yearn for an evening of swanky jazz, the jubilant notes of a holiday musical or even​ the lively beats ​of a bass-dropping holiday DJ​ set, there’s a show for everyone. Get your tickets and celebrate with these entertaining holiday events in Central Oregon.

Swingin Tower Christmas | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of the Tower Theatre

Holiday Magic | December 2 and 3

Find festive jazz at Cascade Chorale’s “Holiday Magic.” Experience a lively mix of classics and exciting new pieces. ​This year, the event brings back the much-loved Jazz Central, as well as special guests—27th Street Brass Quintet and Dove String Quartet. Click here for more information.

The Unhinged Holiday Show | December 9

Get ready for The Unhinged ​Holiday Show, an uproarious mix of stand-up and sketch comedy presented by Bits N Skits. Featuring some of Bend’s favorite​ comedians and hosted by Christine Keefer and Whitney Russell, this show is bound to be a riot of laughs mixed with ​holiday cheer. Click here for more information.

Jingle Ball 2023 | December 16

Join the ultimate EDM holiday bash! Don’t miss out on the fun—arrive early to snag your tickets for five hours of non-stop dancing to the tunes ​of Bend’s finest DJs. Get into the holiday spirit with a photo booth, crafts and a cozy lounge area. The theme is laid-back with a touch of glam, so throw on your “funny formal” ​attire for a night of beats and good vibes. Click here for more information. Click here for more information.

Jazz at the Oxford–A Patrick Lamb Charlie Brown Christmas | December 17 and 18

Musician Patrick Lamb showcases a family Christmas ​celebration with the timeless music of Vince Guaraldi. Don’t ​miss the traditional holiday sounds of an award-winning musician at this classic jazz event. Click here for more information.

Swingin Tower Christmas | December 21, 22 and 23

Get into a festive groove at Swingin’ Tower Christmas—a family-friendly celebration with Christmas tunes, carols and heartwarming stories. ​The event features a 17-piece big band and your favorite local singers. Be on the lookout for Olive the Elf and a special visit from Santa. It’s a holiday experience for all ages you won’t ​want to miss. Click here for more information.

Holiday Runs in Central Oregon

As temperatures dip, it’s prime time to inject some festive fun into your fitness routine with these holiday-themed running races. Beyond uniting the community, it’s also the perfect excuse to showcase those creative holiday costumes. ​Whether you’re donning your ugliest sweater, sporting a Rudolph-red nose or simply cozying up in your warmest gear, it’s time to break a sweat in holiday style.

Ugly Sweater Run | December 2

Embrace the holiday spirit at the ​3rd Annual Ugly Sweater 5K Run or Walk in Sisters. Tackle the scenic route adorned in your favorite ugly Christmas sweater and cap off the run at The Barn food truck pod with a lively post-race party and an entertaining ugly sweater contest. ​Families can create teams for added fun and a portion of the proceeds support Sisters High School’s cross-country team. Click here for more information.

Ugly Sweater Run | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of Run Sisters Run

The Reindeer Rush | December 2

In its first year, The Reindeer Rush is a way for children and their families to precede the Bend Christmas Parade by following the same route through downtown. Enjoy ​free registration and the first 500 kids who sign up receive a whimsical reindeer headband. Click here for more information.

Holiday Lights & Cookie Run | December 6

The FootZone Holiday Lights & Cookie Run route will be full of sweetness and holiday fun. Gather at FootZone and, for a dash of competition, bring your best-baked entry for the chance to win a cookie competition. The 3-mile route​ offers a tour of local lights and decorations. After the run, indulge in cookies and hot ​chocolate, cider and holiday treats. Participate in the contest for a shot at a $25 FootZone gift card. Celebrate the season by combining a fun run, sweet treats, and a showcase of ​your cookie-making prowess. Click here for more information.

Holiday Season at the Old Mill District 

Some of the best holiday events in Central Oregon are found in the Old Mill District, which comes alive with festive cheer throughout December. From SantaLand’s enchantment to sparkling lights and cheerful ​​carolers, the ​atmosphere is brimming with festive joy. As snowflakes gently fall, the Old Mill transforms into a picturesque holiday haven, inviting everyone to create cherished memories and ​embrace the spirit of the season.

Holidays in the Old Mill District | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of the Old Mill District

SantaLand

Step into the magical world of SantaLand at Bend’s Old Mill District. The beautiful wonderland, nestled between Sweet Tooth Candy Shoppe and Sunglass Hut, is the perfect setting for dropping off letters to Santa, mingling with elves, meeting Nutcracker ballerinas and capturing moments with the jolly man in red. Throughout November and December, Santa is available for photos every Friday and Saturday, and an outdoor ​Christmas mailbox invites children to send letters to Santa.

Tree of Joy

Spread the spirit of giving through the Tree of Joy, a heartwarming collaboration between the Salvation Army, Rotary Club of Greater Bend and the Old Mill District. To find gift suggestions for families facing challenges, simply pick up a list, select an unwrapped present and return it to SantaLand. The Salvation Army and Rotary Club ​ensure these thoughtful gifts will reach the recipients and brighten the holidays of for those in need.

Menorah Lighting

Join Chabad of Central Oregon for a Menorah Lighting in the Old Mill District on December 7. Starting at 4 p.m., festivities​ commence with music, hot drinks, food and community camaraderie. The event symbolizes light, faith and resilience, unites the local Jewish community and welcomes all ​backgrounds to commemorate the Festival of Lights, Chanukah (Hannukah).

Holiday Lights Paddle Parade

Witness a beautiful light show on the Deschutes River with the Holiday Lights Paddle Parade on Friday, December 15, starting at 4 p.m. Paddlers from Central Oregon gather near Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe before cruising upriver. Kayaks, canoes or paddle boards are adorned in colorful ​lights, turning the water into a dazzling holiday display. Join the fun and witness a parade that transforms ​the Deschutes into a festive river of lights.

Tumalo Creek Holiday Light Paddle | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of the Old Mill District

Carolers

Get into the holiday spirit with area choirs as they spread cheer in the Old Mill District throughout December. With a cup of hot chocolate in hand and ​surrounded by the Old Mill District’s holiday lights, listen to local choirs of all ages fill the ​air with the sounds of the season.

Click here for more information on holiday celebrations in the Old Mill.

Holiday Season at Central Oregon Resorts

The holidays are especially magical at the beautiful resorts in Central Oregon. ​From sparkling light displays to artisan markets, ​sleigh rides and ice skating, Central Oregon’s resorts offer ample opportunities to create both new traditions and lifelong memories.

Black Butte Ranch

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at Black Butte Ranch. Attend the Christmas Tree Lighting at the Lodge, featuring caroling and delightful treats. Experience holiday magic at Breakfast with Santa, ​complete with photos and cookie decorating. Indulge in the Christmas Buffet, the Christmas Eve Dinner or a carriage ride at the Ranch. Ring in the New Year with a special menu and live music at Aspen Lounge. ​The Lakeside Bistro offers breakfast and a recovery bar ​on New Year’s Day. Select events may require reservations. Lasting holiday memories are created at Black Butte Ranch. Click here for more information on spending the holidays at Black Butte Ranch.

Carriage Rides at Black Butte Ranch | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of Black Butte Ranch

Tetherow Resort

Embrace festivities at Tetherow Resort with its 2023 Holiday Bazaar, featuring local makers and artisans. Enjoy snacks, shop local, and donate a gift to Toys for Tots and get a complimentary drink. Bring kids of all ages to Brunch with Santa, complete with crafts and Santa appearances. The Christmas Eve dinner begins with seasonal cocktails and includes options for every dietary need. Events are open to the public, though Tetherow Members enjoy special discounts. ​More holiday fun at Tetherow Resort.

Sunriver Resort

Celebrate tradition at Sunriver Resort with horse-drawn sleigh rides, fireside hot chocolate and nightly festivities, including the Grand Illumination ceremony. Witness a mesmerizing Holiday Light Show. Join Santa’s Brunch Visits, decorate gingerbread kits, and join in the Takoda the Bear Scavenger Hunt. Enjoy Sunriver Stables Sleigh Rides (weather permitting). Relish in​ festive Christmas dinners and buffets. Visit Gingerbread Junction’s 27th Annual fundraiser and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. ​Craft treasured memories at Sunriver Resort this holiday season. Click here for more information.

Sunriver Resort Traditions | Holiday Events in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of Sunriver Resort.

Brasada Ranch

Experience a festive holiday season at Brasada Ranch with family activities, from cozy carriage rides and visits with Santa to ranch-to-table dining. Brasada offers horseback rides to Spirit Rock with panoramic views and a place to savor hot chocolate and gourmet s’mores. Kids enjoy Brasada’sHot Cocoa Scavenger Hunt. Don’t miss special events like Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Eve Dinner and an adults-only New Year’s Eve Dinner ​at Range Restaurant & Bar. The Cosmic Kids New Year’s Eve Party keeps children entertained with games, crafts, a glow pool party and more.

For more holiday events in Central Oregon, visit our calendar page for an updated lineup of celebrations.

Add These Mountain Biking Trails To Your Fall Ride List

Fall Mountain Biking in Bend

Mountain biking is a popular summer activity in Bend, so much so that the trails can get a little crowded at peak season. But by the time fall rolls around, the crowds slim down, and the trails open up. Fall mountain biking in Bend also brings some of the best weather of the year to ride the trails around Central Oregon. These are the best mountain biking trails near Bend to hit once the weather and crowds cool.

Peterson Ridge Trail

A family-friendly network of loops, the Peterson Ridge Trail is one of the Cascades’ most popular mountain bike routes. It’s also known for being crowded and dusty in the summer months. Fall provides bikers with some of the best views of the Deschutes National Forest, unimpeded by the summer traffic or loose sediment. The total length of the loop is 18.4 miles, but the distance can be tailored to preference with the numerous connectors between the east and west sides of the loop. The majority of the ride is on singletrack trails and defunct Forest Service roads. The prominent signage and moderate technicality make this system of trails an excellent choice for families who want to get out for a ride in the fall or for beginners who can choose the route that works best for them.

Distance: Variable
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Parking: Free. The trailhead is about a half-mile south of Sisters, just across the Whychus Creek bridge.
Open: Until mud and snow make for a near-impossible ride, usually around mid-November.

Mountain Biking on the Farewell Trail near Tumalo Falls in Bend, Oregon in October
Mountain Biking on the Farewell Trail near Tumalo Falls. Photo by Anthony Smith courtesy of Travel Oregon.

North Fork of Tumalo Creek

The higher elevation of the North Fork Trail provides mountain bikers with a cooler alternative on warm fall days. The trail begins at the base of Tumalo Falls and climbs steeply until it is level with the creek above the falls. The more gradual climb follows a series of waterfalls through old-growth forests to Happy Valley. This section can be ridden with mosquitos (and hikers) in the summertime, but the population(s) taper out by early fall. The loop descends via the Farewell Trail, which begins with a circuitous route back through the forest before transitioning into somewhat technical switchbacks near the bottom.

Distance: 7-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate to technical
Parking: Tumalo Falls Trailhead for the 7-mile loop or Skyliner Trailhead for a 15-mile ride. Tumalo Trailhead $5 for a day pass or NW Forest Pass required.
Open: Until the road closes for the fall in late October.

Lookout Mountain Loop

The panoramic views offered by Lookout Mountain come at the cost of substantial sun exposure in summer but can be comfortably enjoyed on a fall ride up the highest peak in the Ochocos. The most comfortable climb begins on Independent Mine Trail and climbs almost a mile on singletrack before opening up on the mountain’s summit. After riders take in the views of the Cascades and surrounding wilderness, those looking for a more gradual descent can descend back on Independent Mine Trail. In contrast, thrill seekers can elect the steeper, rockier Lookout Mountain trail.

Distance: 7.1-mile loop or 8.4 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to technical
Parking: Independent mine trailhead
Open: Until snowfall and mud make the trail impassible

Flagline Loop

Closed until mid-August for elk calving, this mountain bike trail experiences a deluge of riders in the weeks following its official opening, but the crowds should thin out in fall as these riders get their initial fix. The trail in the Deschutes National Forest off Cascade Lakes Highway is primarily singletrack and forested. Still, even the initial, somewhat strenuous climb provides openings for various mountain views. After the initial climb, riders are treated to an extended downhill stretch littered with technical features before ending with another climb back to Dutchman Flat.

Distance: 12.1-mile loop
Difficulty: Technical
Parking: Tumalo Trailhead $5 for a day pass or NW Forest Pass required.
Open: Until snowfall and mud make the trail impassible


Read more about more trails to ride and our local Mountain Biking scene here.

Summer Festivals in Central Oregon
Photo courtesy of Deschutes County Fair & Expo, by Mike West.

This summer, Bend is bursting with a wide array of vibrant festivals that aim to unite the community in celebration of music, art, food and culture. With a festival for every interest from country music to yoga, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Mark your calendar and seize the opportunity to indulge in the very best of Central Oregon’s summer celebrations. 

Bend Yoga Festival 

June 6-9, 2024

Revitalize your yoga practice, embrace holistic living through workshops, and delight in outdoor adventures at the second annual Bend Yoga Festival. Set in scenic Riverbend Park, with riverfront access and stunning mountain views, this festival offers the perfect setting to connect with yourself, forge new connections and appreciate nature’s beauty. Be inspired by esteemed teachers and presenters who will elevate and deepen your practice, leaving a lasting impact beyond the festival. Bendyogafestival.com


Big Ponderoo Music & Art Festival

June 29-30, 2024

Experience the vibrant music and arts community of Sisters at the highly anticipated Big Ponderoo Festival, presented by Sisters Folk Festival. This new event showcases soulful Americana and bluegrass on two stages over three days. Start your journey with a week-long lead-up, featuring jam camps, workshops, and pop-up concerts, culminating in three unforgettable days of live music starting June 29. Enjoy groovy melodies, delicious local food, and a variety of beer, wine and cider while immersing yourself in captivating art displays and interactive events that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Click here for more information.

 


Bend Summer Festival

July 12-14, 2024

Soak in the sunshine and community spirit at the annual Bend Summer Festival, a dynamic t celebration of arts and culture  in downtown Bend. Discover the work of over 100 talented artists and craftspeople showcasing their exquisite designs and artistic prowess. Wander the festival and jam to an exciting lineup of live musical performances taking the stage throughout the weekend. Skateboarding enthusiasts can check out custom features by Tactics, while fans of local artisan works can explore the Oregon Lifestyle area with its array of handmade goods, specialty food products and award-winning wine. Families can look forward to bounce houses, family activities, games and treats. Click here for more information.

 


Fairwell Festival

July 19-21, 2024

Performance at the Fairwell Festival in Redmond Oregon
Photo courtesy of the Fairwell Festival

Experience the vibrant sounds of folk, blues, rock, country and soul at the Fairwell Festival, one of Central Oregon’s newest music festivals. With over 36 performances across three stages, this three-day festival showcases a diverse lineup of talented artists, including headliners Billy & The Strings, Caamp and Kacey Musgraves. Treat yourself to carefully curated culinary experiences with delicious local food, wine and craft beers. Click here for more information.

 


Balloons Over Bend

Balloons Over Bend takes place each summer in Bend, Oregon.
Photo courtesy of Balloons Over Bend.

July 26-28, 2024

Delight in the enchantment of Balloons Over Bend, a family-friendly festival showcasing mesmerizing hot air balloons. Witness the breathtaking sight of balloons ascending against a stunning sunrise on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. In the evenings, head to Bend’s Riverbend Park on Friday and Redmond’s Sam Johnson Park on Saturday for captivating Night Glow events, where glowing balloons illuminate the night sky. Children can also participate in the fun-filled Balloon Blast race as part of the Kid’s Rock the Races series. live music, delicious food and an artisan marketplace will add to the wonder. Click here for more information.


Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo

July 31 – August 4, 2024

Get ready for fun and games at the iconic Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo. This five-day event offers a championship rodeo, family-friendly concerts, an array of animals, thrilling carnival rides, and classic old-fashioned treats like cotton candy and corn dogs. The fairgrounds will also be brimming with shopping opportunities, art exhibits and a wide selection of food options. The Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo is nationally renowned, bringing rodeo fans from far and wide to engage in the colorful spectacle. Click here for more information.


Sunriver Music Festival

Sunriver Music Festival is Central Oregon's classical music festival held each summer.
Photo courtesy of Sunriver Music Festival

August 10-23, 2024

Celebrate the timeless beauty of classical music at the Sunriver Music Festival’s Summer Festival. Listen to world-class performances by professional orchestra musicians and acclaimed soloists from around the country. The Great Hall at Sunriver Resort and the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend serve as premier venues for these performances. Click here for more information.


Art in the High Desert

August 23-25, 2024

Prepare for an even bigger and better edition of Art in the High Desert, one of the country’s premier art events. This year, the event is back in Bend, taking over the green at Riverbend Park. Immerse yourself in the impeccable craftsmanship of approximately 150 nationally acclaimed artists whose work will be on display. Indulge in the wide range of artistic creations and enjoy the opportunity to connect with the passionate artists behind the works. Click here for more information.


Cascade Equinox Festival

September 20-22, 2023

Cascade Equinox Festival Redmond Oregon
Photo courtesy of Cascade Equinox Festival

Celebrate the second annual Cascade Equinox Festival, a three-day music festival presented by Gem & Jam and 4 Peaks. Expand your musical horizon with a diverse lineup of artists who embody artistic exploration and creativity, from local talents to established icons. Discover a foodies’ oasis at the Culinary Commons, explore local handmade clothing and jewelry at The Grove marketplace, engage with interactive art installations at The Cosmic Drip and relax at the Cascade Healing Garden with a variety of healing modalities. For premium accommodations, the Alpenglow Campground provides a comfortable base camp near the festival’s epicenter. Click here for more information.


Sisters Folk Festival

September 27 – 29, 2024

Since 1995, the Sisters Folk Festival has embraced the essence of Americana, bringing heartfelt performances to downtown Sisters. Spanning seven stages, this festival showcases performances by globally renowned artists alongside the most promising emerging talent in the realms of folk, blues, bluegrass and everything in between. Set in a distinctively intimate environment, it offers a truly exceptional setting to revel in the magic of extraordinary music. Click here for more information.

3 Places for Cross-Country Skiing in Bend

Sure, Bend’s proximity to Mt. Bachelor is a major benefit to life in Central Oregon. But great cross-country skiing is even closer to town at a trio of snow parks: Swampy Lakes, Wanoga and Meissner. These parks, set amidst the scenic beauty of Deschutes National Forest, provide well-groomed trails catering to skiers of all levels. Whether you’re a novice seeking gentle slopes or an experienced enthusiast craving challenging routes, there’s something for everyone.

Virginia Meissner Sno-Park is the first you’ll encounter on Cascade Lakes Highway. A mere thirteen miles from downtown Bend and you’ll be clipping into your skis and gliding through a magically wintry alpine forest. Volunteers with the nonprofit Meissner Nordic groom forty kilometers of skate skiing and classic skiing trails that vary in length and degree of difficulty. The warming hut is the community gathering place—a spot to rest, snack and chat with other skiers. Virginia Meissner is also where the annual Luminaria gathering is located.

Just up the road is Wanoga Sno-Park, one of the most popular winter recreation areas off Cascade Lakes Highway for its sledding hill. Wanoga is also the place to take your furry friend. As one of only a few sno-parks open to dogs, Wanoga is your destination for skijoring or just taking Fido out for a romp in the snow. There are groomed trails for skate skiers as well as ungroomed trails for classic Nordic skiers here as well. Designated trails for fat bikers and snowmobilers are in the park, and snowshoers share trails with skiers. Glide along on short and relatively flat loops, great for those who are new to Nordic skiing.

Of all the parks, Swampy Lakes Sno-Park is where to find solitude. Venture deep into the woods and you might just find yourself all alone. There is nothing like the silence and cold of a winter day, with only the shush-shush of your own skis to sing to you on a journey of your choosing. The Swede Shelter—one of three warming huts at Swampy—offers views from the ridgetop down into Tumalo Creek below that are outstanding on a clear day.

If you use any of these trails, be sure to say thanks to the Central Oregon Nordic Club (CONC). The nonprofit is the primary caretaker of the ungroomed trails in the area. They work year-round to update trail signs and maps, maintain the shelters and stock firewood, and more. Their work keeps the backcountry safe as well as accessible.


Update 2/26/2019: This article has been updated with information about the Central Oregon Nordic Club.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in January 2019

6 Ways to Prep Your Garden for Winter

Last winter’s fury left many of us wishing we’d been better prepared. This year, season-proof your yard and garden before deep winter hits. Come spring, you’ll be all set to greet the sun and flowers of the season.

Protect the Garden

In your entire yard, pull up all dead plant materials, rake diseased leaves and remove all fallen branches. “This will prevent insects and disease from overwintering,” said Amy Jo Detweiler from the OSU Extension Service. On your vegetable garden, spread compost or mulch and plant a cover crop that will come up in spring. Consider winter wheat, cereal rye, winter rye, triticale, winter barley or winter peas. “Once it is up, turn it under to enrich your soil.”

Hydrate

Before winter and before turning off the irrigation, deep-soak newly planted perennials, trees and shrubs. What comes next depends on what sort of winter we have. “If we have lots of snow, enjoy the view from inside your cozy home. But if we have a break in the weather with a dry spell—where the sun is out, no snow has fallen and the ground is warmed up—you will need to drag out the garden hose and give all of your plants a deep soak.” If we have a long, dry, sunny winter (wouldn’t that be a change), water every six to eight weeks.

Save the Trees

Young trees are especially vulnerable in winter. For the first few years until the outer bark has thickened, wrap the trunks of thin barked trees like maples, aspen and ash with paper tree wrap to prevent sunscald. “Remove the paper in spring so it won’t harbor unwanted insects over the summer,” said Detweiler.

Tidy Up

Clean your garden tools with a bleach solution and allow them to dry thoroughly before storing. “Tuck them away, along with fertilizers, in a safe dry place out of the reach of children,” said Detweiler.

Pretty on the Inside

Want to brighten up your home with some color? Force bulbs indoors. Try crocus, hyacinths, paper whites, amaryllis, tulips, daffodils, miniature iris or scilla. Also consider planting a window garden of lettuce, chives and parsley.

Holiday Décor

Make holiday decorations from conifer trees, shrubs and ornamental berries from the landscape. Select a live Christmas tree for the holidays, but remember that live trees can only be kept inside for three to five days before breaking dormancy. Plant your tree as soon as possible after the holidays. “If the ground is too frozen to plant your tree, dig a hole the same size of the container on the east or north side of your home, and then sink the tree in the container into the ground to protect and insulate the roots.” Permanently plant the tree in the best location come spring.

Editor’s Note: Originally published November 2017.

5 Drought-Resistant Plants for High Desert Landscaping

Editors Note: This story was originally published in April, 2018.

The best way to start conserving water in your landscaping is to use plants that don’t require much at all.

We asked Amy Jo Detweiler, associate horticulturist for the OSU Extension office here in Central Oregon, to share her top plant choices for a water-wise landscape. For more ideas on drought-friendly trees, shrubs and flowers well-suited to the high desert, visit a local nursery or download Detweiler’s guide, Water-wise Gardening in Central Oregon, a publication of the OSU Extension service. When initially planted, even a native plant requires supplemental irrigation until its root system are established. In the longterm, a plant with a healthier root system requires less water.

1. Crabapple

An ornamental tree that flowers in spring and produces nice fall colors. Varieties include rose, pink, red, and white.

2. Serviceberry

A shrub characterized by white flowers in spring followed by red-orange fall colors.

drought tolerant plant for central Oregon serviceberry

3. Penstemon

Excellent native perennial for a dry garden that comes in multiple colors. Bonus: They attract hummingbirds.

drought tolerant plant in central Oregon penstemon

4. English Lavender

Highly adaptable to the high desert, with gray-green foliage and fragrant blue spikes. Plus, it is a favorite with bees. French lavender is a good option for shady areas, while Spanish lavender is not recommended.

drought tolerant plant in central Oregon English lavender

5. Sedum

A groundcover with succulent foliage that comes in shades of green to blue. Numerous drought-resistant varieties are available and are ideal for rock gardens.

drought tolerant plant in central oregon sedum

5 Steps to Spring-Ready Soil In The High Desert

Spring in the high desert is a tenuous affair. Crazy temperature shifts, snacking wildlife and low rainfall make gardening a task that requires constant vigilance. With so many uncontrollable factors, garden specialist Joel King of High Desert Ranch and Home suggested starting this spring with something you can change: the soil.

Chem 101

Spring-Ready Soil In The High Desert

Although there are general characteristics of soil in Central Oregon—alkalinity, for instance—knowing particular deficiencies makes treating soil appropriately much simpler. Test kits are easy to find at any garden supply store, and most are user-friendly.

Opt Organic

Central Oregon’s soil lacks nutrients left behind by decomposing organic matter. “In the valley, they have about five percent organic matter in any given sample. Here we have .5 percent to none,” said King. To compensate, King recommended finding compost with food waste included. One option is “EcoScraps,” an Oregon-based compost brand. Look for “food-based” or “food-added” products, which will be full of beneficial micro-organisms.

Root Problems

Spring-Ready Soil In The High Desert

It’s easy to forget that Central Oregon really is a desert. “Because we don’t get much rain,” said King, “the soil here tends to be alkaline. We also have ‘volcanic flour,’ which can get compacted and restrict both water and air movement.” Water-hold products, such as coco fibers, can help make the soil more porous. Adding a symbiotic fungus called mycorrhizae around plant roots helps them absorb nutrients. This is because the fungus produces its own hairs-breadth tendrils that can reach water, minerals and vitamins that would elude thicker roots.

Ground Control

Treat specific deficiencies found in the soil test. If your garden lacks magnesium or calcium, lime will help. Sulphur and iron add acidity. Pay attention to the NPK (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) value in fertilizer, which should be 3:1:2 in this area. Nitrogen ensures above-ground growth, phosphate improves stem, bloom and root health and potassium aids the passage of water through cell walls in a dry climate.

Plan Ahead

Spring-Ready Soil In The High Desert

It pays to put thought into plant protection and garden design long term. “One big challenge here is the way temperature fluctuates,” said King. Protective measures will depend on your yard. Windbreaks, rock beds, raised beds, greenhouses and cold frames could all be important. Many gardeners also keep thermal protectors on hands, so if they see a cold night projected in April, or August, they can cover their plants to survive the freeze.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in March, 2018.

Put the Maston Trail System on Your Spring Mountain Biking List

The Maston Trail System makes for great early spring mountain biking in Central Oregon.

In 1907, land developer W.A. Laidlaw skipped town after promising settlers land and water in the area that is now Tumalo. When he couldn’t deliver on the second part, many of the farmers went broke. The community hung Laidlaw in effigy and changed the official name of the town from Laidlaw to Tumalo.

Still, Laidlaw wasn’t a total failure. A century later some of the Tumalo Irrigation Project’s failed irrigation ditches are the backbone of a trail system that offers some of the most reliable spring mountain biking in Central Oregon.

Today, the Maston Trail System, located north of downtown Tumalo near Cline Buttes, attracts both mountain bikers and horseback riders who share the same space, but not the trails. Maston has more than 4,000 acres of land and dozens of miles of trails maintained by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), following along the cliffs of a deep, burrowed canyon overlooking the Deschutes River as it races north toward Cline Falls.

Capitalizing on an uncharacteristically warm January day, we rode through an easy to intermediate trail system, coming across ancient juniper trees and beautiful scenic vistas. We gazed across the southern Cascade mountain range, its jagged peaks still loaded with winter snow. The riding conditions were more consistent with late spring than the dead of winter.

After nineteen miles of trail, we were searching for a bit more riding time, elevation and well-earned downward singletrack. We pedaled our two-wheeled steeds across the highway up to Cline Buttes and seized the opportunity for some seriously ripping downhill descents. Not a bad way to wake from a winter slumber.

After Party: The Bite

The Bite in Tumalo, Oregon

After two hours of steady pedaling, it was time to stroll over to Tumalo’s must-stop food truck lot, The Bite. With a vast array of different culinary delights to choose from, we grabbed for ourselves an original Kobayashi hot dog from Ronin, where East meets West in an explosive harmonization of flavors. I paired it with a Thin Red Lime beer from Laurelwood Brewing Company and reflected on our first ride of the year.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published March, 2019.

3 Locals Share Their Favorite Spring Running Trails
Photo of Courtney Drewsen at Smith Rock by Paul Nelson

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in 2018

Time to lace up sneakers, skip the treadmill and hit the trails.

Summer and fall bring ample opportunities for trail running in Central Oregon. Spring, however, is a different story, as higher elevation trails can still be snowed in. Here, three local runners share their favorite trails for running in Central Oregon in the spring.

Kari Strang

“For getting in some hills early spring I like to run the Summit Loop and Misery Ridge out at Smith Rock, and once snow starts to melt off more, Tumalo Falls up to to Happy Valley. Earlier in the spring I like to run the Deschutes River Trail, Horse Butte and Horse Ridge (out east), and Peterson Ridge (in Sisters). Running along the Metolius out past Sisters is also nice that time of year. And of course, Shevlin Park is always beautiful and easy to access for a nice spring run.”

Trails

Misery Ridge | About 1-mile, but entirely uphill
Tumalo Falls to Happy Valley | 10 miles
Deschutes River Trail | Old Mill Loop is about 6 miles
Horse Butte | 10 miles
Horse Ridge | 30 miles of trails to choose from
Peterson Ridge | 16 miles of trails to choose from

Lucas Alberg

Lucas Alberg Running Peterson Ridge Trail
Photo of Lucas Alberg by Nate Wyeth

“An area developed by the Deschutes Land Trust, the Whychus Canyon Preserve has canyon views, mountain views and in the springtime, plenty of wildflowers to view as well. Classic high desert flora such as balsamroot and lupine litter the steep canyonsides and provide some nice color as you run up and down nature’s version of a stair workout.

The Tam-a-láu Trail is one of those hidden gems in plain sight. Most Central Oregonians have probably never heard of it, let alone run on it, but certainly know where it is. Situated atop the high plateau above the confluence of the Deschutes, Crooked and Metolius Rivers at the Cove Palisades State Park, the trail is a perfect springtime run. Summer crowds—and heat—have yet to come, and you’ll most likely have all the views to yourself.

The springtime wildflowers on Lookout Mountain in the Ochocos are likely to be out by late May or early June. One of my favorite loop runs, this classic 7-mile loop highlights some of the region’s best, including balsamroot, lupine, shooting star, mountain bluebell, Indian paintbrush, larkspur, and columbine.”

Trails

Whychus Canyon Preserve | 7 miles
Tam-a-láu Trail | 7 miles
Lookout Mountain | 7 miles

Courtney Drewsen

“Springtime I like to run at Smith Rock because the wildflowers are beautiful along the trails and the temperatures are not too hot like they can be in the summer out there. Also, the Deschutes River Trail between Meadow Picnic Area and Benham Falls is very scenic. The colors in the flowers and trees come out with great contrast against the lava rocks.”

Trails

Smith Rock | Lots of different trails to choose from, easy to moderate routes
Meadow Picnic Area to Benham Falls | 6.5 miles
Shevlin Park | A lot of trails to choose from with varying lengths

 

On all these great local trails, be sure to keep a mask handy and to maintain your distance from other people and groups on the trail. Please mask up when passing other groups, or when keeping six feet away is impossible. Let someone know where you’re going before you take off, stick to the trail and have fun!

5 Central Oregon Trails to Hike This Winter

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in October, 2018

These low-elevation trails are usually clear of snow year-round and are great for winter hiking. When the snow is sticking around in Bend, head to these hikes around Central Oregon that are lower in elevation. You’ll find clear trails without many people for a great hike throughout the winter months.

Tam-a-lau Trail

The Tam-a-lau Trail is one of the newer trails in Cove Palisades State Park in Culver. The six-mile loop trail is easy for kids and families year-round, but best in the winter when it’s not as popular or hot outside. The trail usually stays clear of snow. The area is popular for seeing a variety of wildlife, as well as great views of the Cascade Mountain Range.

Distance: 6-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: Allowed on a leash

Rimrock Springs Trail

Off Highway 26 in the Crooked River National Grasslands, the Rimrock Springs Trail is open year-round. There’s very little elevation gain in this two-mile out-and-back hike. The first half-mile of the hike is paved. There are several information signs about the wildlife and natural area as well as viewpoints along the way.

Distance: 2 miles out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: Allowed

Otter Bench Loop Hike

If you want to get away from the crowds that can populate the year-round hikes in the winter, head to the Crooked River Canyon for the Otter Bench Loop Hike. The main part of the hike doesn’t have much elevation gain, but there are offshoot trails you can take that will give you more of a challenge. The trails provide impressive views of the canyon and is lightly trafficked in the.

Distance: 9.3-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: Allowed

Metolius River Trail

The trails along the Metolius River usually stay clear all year. From the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, wind through the forest and along the crystal-clear water of the Metolius. The trail going downstream creates 6.5-mile loop that stays flat most of the way.

Distance: 6.5 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: Allowed on a leash

Tamolitch Blue Pool Hike

The 3.7-mile out-and-back hike along the McKenzie River Trail to Tamolitch Blue Pool provides a diverse landscape. The green, temperate forest slowly changes to a flow of lava rock as you hike along the trail. A short climb will lead to the Blue Pool, an almost impossibly blue lake formed from the McKenzie River. The trail is very popular year-round.

Distance: 3.7-mile out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: Allowed on a leash

Aquaglide Drops Anchor in Bend

Aquaglide produces water sport gear and has plans for growing its business.

Photo courtesy of Aquaglide

Jeff Cunningham wants you to have fun on the water. As the General Manager and VP of Sales for Aquaglide—a producer of commercial-grade custom Aquaparks, inflatable kayaks, and standup paddleboards—Cunningham is responsible for bringing Aquaglide to Bend, which was no small feat.

When in the spring of 2018 he met with John Archer, the President and CEO of Kent Watersports, he was charged with a simple task: “I was there to facilitate Kent’s acquisition of Aquaglide and move the operation—then based in White Salmon, Washington—down the road to Snoqualmie.”

Founded in 1995 by a windsurfing distributor named David Johnson, Aquaglide now operates in more than seventy countries and offers more than 120 unique products.

The company was a natural fit in the Kent Watersports portfolio and both Archer and Johnson were eager to see the deal go through. Cunningham also understood the importance of the deal for both Aquaglide and his own career, but there was a catch. Moving from Bend, where he had been working remotely for six years, was a deal-breaker.

“It was the first time in my life where I’ve actually chosen where to live,” Cunningham said, referring to his 2013 move from Seattle to Bend.

No stranger to working for big corporations, Cunningham has lived all over the country from California to Vermont to Tennessee and Washington. He had visited Bend while in college for mountain biking and rock climbing but after graduation, he began what he refers to as “chasing chairs.”

“I was moving from company to company trying to grow and attain the next position up.”

The purchase of Aquaglide by Kent was the biggest deal of Cunningham’s career; it had to go through, but the “Bend or bust” mantra that he and his co-workers adopted complicated things. It took months of negotiations and a shared vision by both Cunningham and Archer.

“I had to show him that the quality of life that Bend offers would make Aquaglide a better company,” Cunningham said.

As of December 2018, Aquaglide, the newest subsidiary of Kent Watersports, moved to Bend. With ten employees, most of whom are local hires, it is likely that Central Oregon will see its first Aquapark in the not too distant future.

A Family-Centric Mid-Century Home in Bend

A remodel brings this mid-century home back to its prime and offers more function for this Bend family.

When Abby and Bill Caram bought their mid-century home in Bend’s Orchard District in 2015, they knew a remodel was in their future.

“The house was beautiful when we bought it, but it had undergone many non-professional remodels,” Abby said.

The Carams loved the neighborhood, which grew up around St. Charles Hospital after it moved to the east side in the 1970s. They believe the house was custom built for a physician who needed to be near work.

For advice on the remodel, they turned to their close friend, Erich Hohengarten, described by Abby as “a great mix of engineer, artist, designer and contractor.” Hohengarten dismisses those credits, saying he’s foremost an artist with experience in the building trades. The trio worked out a collaboration—Bill and Abby would serve as the general contractors, pulling permits and other functions of a builder, and Hohengarten would be the consultant and interior designer. The couple who juggle careers and family (Bill works for Deschutes River Conservancy and Abby is the operations manager at BendFilm) spent almost a year discussing the project, which gave the Carams time to try on ideas and modify the scope as their needs and wants evolved.

The first thing they did was examine the floor plan and how spaces were used. “I’d ask myself, ‘What is it that’s missing to help it flow and function better?’ ” Abby said. The group decided to leave the layout alone, including bedrooms and baths, but they would add a mudroom. The windows had been updated, and the structure was solid. But multiple remodels had left the interior with mismatched doors, poorly laid tile, multiple flooring materials and a mix of wall textures and patches.

“One of the primary goals was to bring all the finishes to a much higher standard, something we all felt the original layout of the house was worthy of,” Hohengarten said.

An overarching theme was to design around the family’s active lifestyle which includes two daughters, two dogs and a cat, as well as keep their aesthetics in mind, which lean toward clean and cohesive contemporary lines with a nod to the home’s mid-century roots.

In the kitchen, the couple chose to replace a small vinyl window above the sink that overlooked the deck. They selected a much larger and screenless accordion window to create an expansive feeling of indoor-outdoor living. The girls, Adele and Margot, often eat breakfast outside on the deck while mom and dad pass food back and forth. The new windowsill is made of live-edge Northern California oak.

“If you stop by in the summer months, this beautiful window is open all the time,” Hohengarten said.

The accordion window also meant that wall cabinets had to be torn out, precipitating a cascade of other changes. The family sacrificed part of the two-car garage to add a mudroom and kitchen pantry to make up for the lost cabinets and to increase storage. They refaced all the remaining kitchen cabinets, even encasing the refrigerator to create an entirely white wall. A unique feature of the kitchen is the floor-to-ceiling wall of cork.

“Bill had purchased a quantity of cork flooring that he really liked for the downstairs master bath and bedroom,” Hohengarten said. “Once we decided to install white oak floors in the whole house, we repurposed the cork as a wall cladding in the kitchen.”

This now serves as a large cork board for the girls’ art, adding color and a playful feel to the space.

A favorite feature of the new floor is the “wood waterfall” pattern on five steps leading from the dining room into the living room. The wood grain flows in a vertical pattern instead of across the steps in a typical horizontal configuration. Other unifying elements involved painting all the walls but one white, removing all the trim and recessing the baseboard so that it is flush with the wall.

“To the untrained eye, this small detail is what gives your sixth sense the feeling that the space is very svelte and streamlined,” Hohengarten explained.

The spacious living room is filled with natural light from two large angled windows and several clerestory windows on either side of the wood-burning fireplace with a gray wall and an old-fashioned metal mesh screen. Even though the house has nearby neighbors, large trees provide a natural privacy screen and the feeling of being in the woods. Abby took full advantage of the natural light to grow numerous house plants, which she says do well because of the light and not any green thumb on her part.

The room has all the comforts of a family gathering space, including a special desk Abby bought for a new pastime, jigsaw puzzles. Light fixtures, furniture, and art add pop and color. A Sputnik-style chandelier that came with the house is a focal point in the dining room, and another retro light pendant adorns the informal kitchen nook above a ’50s-era yellow Formica metal table and chairs.

The house is filled with original artwork the couple has been given by their many friends in the art community. A nice touch includes new square glass doorknobs throughout the home. Entrance to the multi-level dwelling is over a driveway where the family parks its RV, their temporary home during remodeling. They replaced the former front door with two contemporary clear-glass window-pane doors that let light into the foyer. A favorite wood carving by Sisters artist Dayton Lanphear greets visitors as they enter this uniquely Caram home.

In the end, the couple achieved its goal of striking a balance between form and function. Bill’s advice to others?

“Have a vision for the whole house, and if you can, do it all at once, especially the floors,” he said. “It’s lovely to live in a home that matches one’s personality.”

Maxwell Friedman, 15, Releases Debut Piano Album

Maxwell Friedman, a local piano prodigy, is making his big debut this summer with his first album, Beyond Neblar.

Photo by JP Schlick

Maxwell Friedman is already coming into his own. The fifteen-year-old Bend Senior High School freshman has somehow figured out how to balance being a piano prodigy with being a teenager. He has recently released his first album, Beyond Neblar (Live In Bend), with the Maxwell Friedman Group (MFG). The album was recorded live at McMenamins Old St. Francis School and features nine tracks, seven of which are originals that Friedman penned himself. Amidst his busy schedule, Friedman found time to sit down with Bend Magazine to discuss his invitation to the High Sierra Music festival and where he plans to head in the future.

On His Recently Played List

Christian McBride’s album Live at the Village Vanguard is a really good project that I need to listen to more. If you haven’t heard him you should start listening, he’s amazing. This next one is more a specific song that I’ll listen to all the time. “Pinzin Kinzin” by Avishai Cohen who’s an Israeli bass player; it’s kinda cool because there are very few Jewish jazz artists, and I am lucky to self-identify as one, being from a Jewish family. I just recently listened to the Tyler The Creator album Igor over and over again, because it has a lot of jazz and soul influences on it.

On Growing Up In Central Oregon

Living here has broadened my perspective on how I view music. You could be from one part of town and listen to a certain type of music and you could be further outside of town and listen to a completely different type of music, which is what is so cool about our community. I have gotten into bluegrass, and I used to not identify as a country music fan until I heard some of these bands like Greensky Bluegrass and other bands at the 4 Peaks Music Festival and Sisters Folk Festival. It’s an amazing genre if you think about it.

Maxwell Freidman Group

On Finding Balance

I think the biggest thing with balancing stuff, even though it seems like a paradox, is staying busy. When you have nothing to do, you will just waste your time doing random stuff like watching TV or playing video games. I do all the things that a teenager does. I find that prioritizing what I am doing really helps with staying organized, which naturally is very hard for me. I am a very ADD-type person so staying in one spot and doing one thing gets hard. Homework always comes first, then practicing music, then if I am done with all that I will either produce or hang out with friends.

On Playing High Sierra Music Festival

I’ve been to the High Sierra Music Festival six or seven times. When I first went, I wasn’t super into the jazz stuff but over the years I would start to play with some of the musicians there and made my way up to sitting-in with musicians. This year I am officially an Artist-At-Large, which is a huge achievement that I have been looking forward to. I am really grateful to be part of that [High Sierra] family and have my name on the poster of a festival that I love.

On Long-Term Goals

I want to write at least 500 songs in the next thirty years. I would like to get to the point where I am composing something every week. I also want to work on giving back to the arts and to schools which is huge. I went to a magnet-turned charter school for middle school, and they did not have a music program. It was a different type of curriculum, which really helped my learning style but there’s very little funding for the arts programs in schools, and I want to make that available for kids.

LGPA Golf Pro Finds A Home At Tetherow Golf Club
Photo by Lyndsey Dupuie

Editors Note: This article was originally published July, 2019

After six years on the pro tour, LGPA golf pro Katie Burnett puts down roots in Bend at Tetherow Golf Club.

For the past six years, Katie Burnett circumnavigated the globe thirty weeks a year playing professional golf.

A card-carrying member of the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, Burnett’s career included three runner-up finishes, eight top-10s, and nearly a million dollars in total earnings.

In 2018, Burnett was growing weary of the exhausting travel and tournament schedule. When her wife, former Dutch national team golfer and now head coach Dewi Schreefel, suggested they relocate to Bend, Burnett, 29, decided to transition from pro golfer to golf pro. She landed at Tetherow Golf Club, where she now provides instruction to members and guests who want to improve their golf game.

The Georgia native was a stand-out softball player who at age 14 was attracting the attention of college recruiters.

“My dream was to play on the USA softball team,” Burnett recalls. “Golf was just something to fill in the gap when I wasn’t playing softball.”

But when the sport was removed from the Summer Olympics in 2012, Burnett says her softball dreams “went out the window,” and her focus shifted to golf.

Katie Burnett
Photo by Lyndsey Dupuie

“I realized I was pretty good at golf, even though I didn’t practice that much,” Burnett says. “A friend of mine was playing at Stanford, and I would practice with her all the time when she was home. She helped me improve really fast.”

Burnett would go on to play for the University of South Carolina, where she holds the all-time scoring record for the Gamecocks and was a two-time All-SEC Second Team selection and a Second-Team All American.

After making it through Qualifying School for both the LPGA and Ladies European tours, Burnett gained experience and success quickly, including a top-5 finish in her first tournament as a pro. Her career-best result occurred in 2016 at the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii, where she led through three rounds going into championship Sunday. She lost by a stroke to a golfer who shot an extraordinary 8-under par that day.

“That was a great feeling,” she recalls. “To know that I was good enough to win, but I just got a little unlucky that day.”

While Burnett is largely retired from professional golf, you can catch her at her favorite event of the year, the Cambia Portland Classic, an LPGA event held Labor Day weekend at Portland’s Columbia Edgewater.

For now, Burnett is happy to stay in one place and get to know all her new home has to offer.

“What I like most about Bend is that the community is really athletic and outdoorsy,” she says. “There’s golf, but also all these other sports. In Georgia, people who play golf, that’s the only thing they do. At Tetherow, our golf members and guests are also really good skiers or mountain bikers. I love that about being here.”

How to Add a Water Feature to Your Landscaping

The do’s and dont’s of adding a water feature to your home landscaping in the high desert.

Photos courtesy of Aquascape Inc.

Tucked into a backyard corner in an established northeast Bend neighborhood sits an oasis in the Central Oregon high desert. A slight waterfall cascades down a terrace of stacked slate into a small catchment from where the water recirculates up through the stone and back down again.

Blocking out sounds from passing cars and the chatter from neighbors, the waterfall was built by homeowner and experienced DIY-er Al Beekman. Beekman used slate given to him by a neighbor, a circulating water pump purchased at a Tumalo Community School auction and other materials.

Throughout Central Oregon you can find similar sanctuaries that can range in size and complexity, from a pond large enough for swimming to a single jar-style fountain. All provide respite from the high desert heat, relief from the sun’s glare, the soothing sound of flowing water and a haven for people, pets and wildlife.

Photos courtesy of Aquascape Inc.

While many of these projects share similar construction steps, they are usually only built by veteran DIY-ers or landscape professionals.

“If you’re going to build a pond—with or without a waterfall—you probably should get help,” advised Shannon Lester, who with her husband owns Blooming Desert, a landscaping design and build firm based in Powell Butte. “It isn’t just the cost of materials. There’s also the cost of repairs if things go wrong or if installation is incorrect,” added Suzanne Day Audette, a landscape architect and contractor who has been called in to redesign and replace leaky water features.

Almost every project starts with a shovel, and excavation can be particularly tricky here given the shallow layer of lava rock beneath the topsoil. Once the site is prepped, a layer of sand is added, followed by a pond liner. For smaller projects, premade pond forms can be used in place of the sand and liner. Some designs call for a fountain while others require the use of a pump and hose to circulate the water to the top of a waterfall. Both require electrical connections.

“You want to be careful whenever you’re working with electricity and water. And you also don’t want standing water,” said Audette. “You need the water to move quickly enough so that you have the sound, and you don’t also have a breeding area for mosquitoes or flies.”

Once the pond is built, plantings should be added to obscure the construction edges and to integrate the area with the rest of the landscape. Both designers agree that homeowners should consider several factors when adding a water feature. These include any homeowner association regulations, the location’s exposure to sun or shade, maintenance time (the larger the feature, the more the work), measures to combat evaporation, smart technology, safety for family members and pets, and the wildlife that the homeowners may, or may not, want to attract. A final important factor is schedule. According to Audette, the smartest planners make arrangements in the fall or early winter for the next spring or summer’s installation.

Pondless waterfalls, where water cascades down a boulder or series of rocks, through a gravel or stone bed and then recirculates to flow again, are becoming increasing popular. Lester and Audette recommend them rather than a pond in homes with children or pets or for those homeowners who want to encourage the local bird, bee and butterfly populations rather than deer or elk.

Photos courtesy of Aquascape Inc.

If you want immediate gratification, however, the shortest route to a water feature can be found at local garden centers, such as Landsystems Nursery or Tumalo Garden Market, which are only two of the many local outlets that sell fountains that are ready to plug and play. Fountains range in size and style from tiered concrete composite arrangements that would rival Rome’s Trevi Fountain to sleek ceramic jars to a small boulder outfitted with a bubbler.

There is a suitable design for every Central Oregon home. For Beekman, the water feature adds an extra level of enjoyment to his family’s backyard.

“The waterfall faces the house and the sound can also be heard inside,” he said. “It really drowns out the city noise and is just such a soothing sound.”

Do You Have What It Takes For The Hammer Fest?

The Tuesday night Hammer Fest is an unofficial tradition and a trial for hardcore local cyclists.

Tuesday night Hammer Fest

Bend is home to almost a dozen bike shops and about as many public group bicycle rides. The Bend Area Cycling Enthusiasts, for example, lead casual rides that often cover scenic gravel roads. The Dirt Divas offer all-female romps on mountain bikes. But only one local group ride is proudly a “drop ride”—that’s to say, if you can’t keep up, that’s your problem.

For its exclusivity, the leaderless road ride, which rolls from Bull Springs Road at Johnson Road at 6:15 p.m. each Tuesday, is known as “The Hammer Fest,” a derisive yet fitting nickname that eventually stuck. It’s not for everyone. Mentioning The Hammer Fest in mixed cycling circles often elicits sidelong glances and snarky opinions. It also inspires some deep-throated enthusiasm from supporters. (For a less concussive Tuesday group ride, try WebCyclery’s Rubber Mallet, which adamantly regroups to avoid dropping riders.)

The Hammer Fest traces the thirty-six-mile Twin Bridges Scenic Bike Loop north of Bend. For some local cyclists, particularly those who structure rides around race schedules, hanging with The Hammer Fest, and perhaps sparking a few attacks, is a point of pride. Most of the two dozen cyclists who regularly show up know each other. And despite the ride’s warlike tactics, some are even friends.

Tuesday night Hammer Fest

Each week’s ride is a variation on a recurring theme. At 6:15 p.m., someone hollers “We’re rolling!” Cyclists stream across the median and ride two-abreast on Johnson Road’s northbound shoulder. The group’s speed soon reaches thirty miles per hour along the smooth descent. The riders leading the pack spin in high gears while those behind tuck into their drafts, coasting and resting their legs in anticipation of the series of punchy climbs and attacks that can split the group during the ride, which is usually about an hour into the ride. Sometimes the leaders break away—and stay away. Other times, the main group reabsorbs them, amoeba-like, at an overall average speed of twenty-three miles per hour or faster. Inevitably, less experienced or slower riders slip off the rear. Direct wind force makes catching back up a herculean effort. These “popped” riders are not seen again until next week, if at all.

It’s a Y-chromosome heavy group. But on a recent Tuesday evening, Sophie Andrews, wearing a neon-and-blue kit and riding a matching yellow bike, cranked up Shevlin Park Road to join the growing group of mostly male cyclists straddling their bikes at the intersection with Bull Springs Road. Some chatted while others stood silently as they made last-minute arrangements to gear or sipped electrolyte-enhanced water.

Andrews, 25, is a newcomer, but no stranger. Her father Robert Andrews rode the Hammer Fest regularly in the early aughts. Recently, a friend and teammate encouraged Andrews to give it a shot. Upon arriving, she chatted with Austin Arguello, 28, a friend she made at the University of Oregon in Eugene. They raced on the school’s cycling club while earning undergraduate degrees. Arguello, an elite road racer, recently relocated to Bend after spending summers here as a junior racer. Andrews and Arguello swapped training details in anticipation of the Cascade Cycling Classic race series, which was held in Bend in late May.

One of the Hammer Fest’s most challenging moments arrives after a swooping, forty-mile-per-hour descent where Twin Bridges Road spans the Deschutes River. There, riders click through their cassettes as they climb up a twisty switchback. A subsequent false flat on Swalley Road further punishes riders before a fast descent into Tumalo. On this particular Tuesday, the group stuck together. Andrews tackled Twin Bridges and settled into an energy-sparing paceline into Tumalo. Later, during the gradual climb into Bend along Johnson Road, Andrews stuck with the lead group to one of the final hills near Bull Springs Road. When several riders attacked, Andrews responded with an assault of her own. After each week’s Hammer Fest, Andrews calls or texts with her father to recap the race-like efforts. He intends to join her on the ride later this summer once his fitness is up to the task.

Andrews would have joined the Hammer Fest sooner if there were more women, she said. She hopes her participation will spur other female riders to join. Her father isn’t surprised that she’s taking the lead in that respect and holding her own on the road.

Tuesday Hammer Fest

“Sophie understands the nuance to excel at that level,” Robert said. “She loves the strategy. When she’s intimidated, that motivates her more.”

Longtime Hammer Fest riders peg the ride’s origin to 1996. The group originally departed from the parking lot of Sunnyside Sports, whose team once lead a group of five or ten along the Twin Bridges loop. The shop is no longer affiliated with the Hammer Fest, said Susan Conner, the co-owner of Sunnyside Sports. The ride moved its meetup spot to its current location in spring 2018 to avoid in-town traffic snarls.

“It’s kind of a feral ride,” Conner said with a laugh. “It’s gained a life of its own.”

Professional cyclist Carl Decker has ridden the Hammer Fest since the mid-aughts. Decker is one of a handful of local pros who enjoy the ride because they can mix with old friends and Bend’s newest generation of riders. The Hammer Fest is indispensable for cyclists who are serious about racing, Decker said.

“It’s really hard to do this kind of thing by yourself. It’s painful and awful and miserable and terrible,” Decker said with a laugh. “But doing it with a group is fun. Somehow.”

Artist Paul Alan Bennett Reaches For The Stars

Sisters artist Paul Alan Bennett marries iconic desert landscapes to the heavens in a new book of works, Night Skies.

It’s 1986, and Paul Alan Bennett is driving alone around midnight toward the tiny town of Jordan Valley, near the Idaho border. He’s on the road through Paleolithic-age marshes, en route to rural schools as part of a state program to bring art lessons to remote communities. The headlights illuminate the path, with waves lapping over it from Malheur Lake, swollen with melting snow. The lake appeared endless, with nowhere to turn off the two lanes of asphalt.

“I just had to keep going, and I became so aware of the landscape and the power of it,” said Bennett. “I was amazed at how dark the sky can be and how many stars I could see. I found it spoke to me—driving off in the night sky—the sense of the scale of things.”

Although he was born in Montana, this was new to him. He came of age in Baltimore, went to the Maryland Institute of Art, and earned a master’s in Greek history at the University of LaVerne in Athens, Greece—places where the night sky is obscured by city lights and pollution.

That night on the road not only inspired the first of scores of works about Earth’s celestial ceiling, but it also ignited his passion for stargazing, informed by the Greek mythology behind the constellations. Bennett wrote a play themed on the night sky and penned star-themed songs for ukulele. Most recently, he self-published the hardcover book Night Skies, which includes forty-four of his paintings. Employing his signature style, the look of knitted fabric created with watercolor, he depicts headlights projecting into the night beyond the blacktop, to a swirl of planetary splendor above.

There’s a paddleboarder with a dog under a full moon and Virgo skies, a climber atop a Smith Rock spire beneath the constellation of Cygnus and a lone red car with beaming headlights joining the Corona Borealis, mythically formed when Dionysus tossed Ariadne’s wedding crown into the night sky.

Each illustration is accompanied by short bits of text such as:

“Look up. Feel the wonder and mystery above you.”
“Feel the moon welcoming your gaze.”
“Feel the night upon your skin.”

More Than A Muse

Yet the night sky is more than Bennett’s muse. He believes it’s a rich part of the human experience now largely ignored.

“That’s how people lived—watching the night sky—it was their Facebook,” he said. “That’s how they would navigate and know when to plant. For thousands of years we were connected [to] the night sky, but that’s not the case anymore.”

Bennett advocates for stargazing’s soothing, nurturing effects on the human brain.

“It’s like a battery of wonder, to be connected and aware of this world, this spinning globe that we’re on and the swirling stars above,” he said. “When you get into negative thinking, or your brain gets stuck in the monkey mind, or maybe just being angry with yourself or thinking bad thoughts and you can’t seem to shake it, you’re in your head, and so the idea of looking at the stars is to get out of your head … getting people out of their computers, their phones and their heads.”

Just as people have embraced a Paleo diet, looking up seems to tap healthy benefits embedded in our DNA too, he said.

“I talked with people about the night skies and it’s almost always a personal, powerful experience,” said Bennett, 69. “It’s a time to connect with the bigger, vaster universe in which we live. It found a way into my work, and I found people really liked that.”

Free Show, Nightly

Central Oregon’s night sky is an asset as great as its mountains, rivers and trails, but doesn’t get as much attention.

“We live in a planetarium, and we have a free show here every night. Well, where’s the money in that?” he said.

Each evening, he looks up from his front porch in Sisters, where he’s lived since 1990 with his wife, Carolyn Platt, also an artist and teacher, and where they raised their son, Parker Bennett, now 27 and studying in Berlin.

“I don’t own a telescope, I just like standing on the front porch and seeing what I can see,” he said. “I like the feeling of vastness—nothing between my eye and the night sky.”

It’s his artistic eye that draws partners and gallery owners. Pendleton Woolen Mills created sixteen tapestries based on his images. People even wear his work, printed on leggings and dresses sold along with his book, original works, prints and cards on his website. Myrna Dow, owner of High Desert Frameworks, recalled discovering Bennett’s work shortly after opening her gallery in Sisters in 2001. One piece stood out to her.

“It featured the Owyhee River. To this day I love the colors, pattern and lyrical feeling of the river and surrounding land,” said Dow. “I knew right then that Paul was a wonderful artist with a unique style. at style is proven to be a very collectible characteristic that is loved by many.”

Finding Respite in a Storied Lodge in the Eagle Cap Wilderness

Getting to the Minam River Lodge in the Eagle Cap Wilderness is just the beginning of the adventure.

Joe Spence, piloting his four-seat Cessna, is rhythmically chewing gum, gliding the craft amid dozens of 9,000-foot granite peaks that yield to high ridges—sleeping giants with great, forested fingers reaching down into the glaciated valleys of the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon. The wild, trout-laden Minam River ribboned through, sparkling in the sun.

Spence has been making the twenty-minute flight west from tiny Enterprise, Oregon, into the Eagle Cap Wilderness for thirty years, a reassuring thought when thick legions of ponderosas, standing at welcoming attention, gesture toward a grassy, bowling-lane-sized airstrip.

Putting the wheels on the ground, Spence’s gum-chewing doesn’t skip a beat as he lands at the Minam River Lodge, which is enjoying a renaissance after it had lay dormant and neglected for a decade.

Joe Spence in his four-seat Cessna
Joe Spence piloting his four-seat Cessna

Its reinvention had been fraught with obstacles so powerful, though rational minds feared the land might be cursed, that natural forces conspired to dash mortal efforts.

The five-foot, four-inch Spence, his hands in his pockets, cocked his head to one side as he strolled a few feet toward three women from the lodge staff, perched on some cut wood, one with a banjo, another with a guitar. “Winter’s come and gone, a little bird told me so,” the trio sang to him, harmonizing the Gillian Welch tune. “…Been so lonesome, shaking that morning chill.” Quaking aspens added gentle percussion. That’s how people say thank you in this piece of wilderness—and it goes to the heart of how a core group of the staff here drew on timeless skills—from art, agriculture and architecture to country grit, backwoods know-how and well-honed project management, to realize a vision shared by a man with memories, a mission and money—who couldn’t have reopened this place without them.

That sense of love for this place set the stage for me to fall hard for it, too.

The Right Stuff—Hard Work

It took six years to recreate the last remaining public lodge in the Eagle Cap Wilderness before it opened in May 2017. Owner Barnes Ellis had first discovered it in the late 1980s, while working as a reporter at The Oregonian. “I loved the place for its rugged beauty and the romance of living in the wilderness,” said Ellis. “I never forgot it.”

Minam River Lodge
The lodge occupies one of the few pieces of private land in a vast swath of forested wilderness.

He’d left journalism in the early 1990s and had gone into investing in Portland. In 2009, he’d heard that the lodge was for sale. Two years later, he paid $605,000, to buy it—a fraction of what he would pay to revive the lodge in an inspired-by-nature style.

Minam River Lodge
A multi-year restoration effort forged strong bonds among the staff.

He had hundreds of loads of building supplies, from heavy-timber trusses to delicate solar panels, flown in. Workers harvested trees from the lodge’s 126 acres, skidding them across the frozen river, milling lumber on-site, recycling materials from the original structures, hand-building nine guest cabins, a 4,000-square-foot lodge, a house for staff— everything down to curating works of local artists, from historic photos for the walls to handmade ceramic dishes. When they were finally done, they—well, they weren’t.

“They couldn’t leave,” said Ellis. “The place has a certain pull to it. Also, I have a lot of faith in them. We have been through a lot together.”

Ellis and construction superintendent-turned-lodge manager Isaac Trout didn’t seek staff with traditional hospitality resumes. Those best suited to welcoming guests were already there, the hand-picked team that helped build it.

A Chief, The Dudes and An Investor

The Minam River Lodge lies on the edge of Nez Perce ancestral lands, hunting grounds for bighorn sheep and deer, which drew the tribe in 1400 A.D. In the 1870s, Chief Joseph’s band of Nez Perce summered and gathered huckleberries here. As the U.S. government drove them out, Joseph gained fame as he called for freedom and equality, futilely. By 1890, settlers were homesteading on the lodge property.

Fur trappers, miners, loggers and ranchers followed. In 1950, Erma and Mert Loree built the original Minam River Lodge, bringing materials over the mountains by mule. The lodge bustled with hunters hungry to hunt black bear and elk in “Mert’s Meat Locker.” Less than a mile away, Red’s Horse Ranch, a local legendary dude ranch, drew silver screen celebrities such as Burt Lancaster as well as carousing cowboys.

Over the years and a succession of owners, the lodge fell into disrepair. When Ellis bought it in 2011, he hadn’t seen it in more than a decade. Looking back, he’s glad about that. “I would’ve scared myself out of it,” Ellis said.

Hospitality, Organically

In the garden outside the lodge, one of the women who’d played guitar and sung to the pilot earlier that afternoon was now cultivating hundreds of organic vegetable plants, from heirloom tomatoes, Swiss chard and lettuces to tender herbs and heart-shaped radishes in a forty-foot-long greenhouse.

The fare travels mere feet to the kitchen of Chef Carl Krause, who’s tapped into the terroir. He lays alder wood over smoldering coals, subtly heightening the umami of pork and grass-fed beef from Wallowa family ranches. (He’d gotten an assist when a guest, piloting his own plane, clipped an alder on the landing.) He’ll forage for morels between the cabins, or tell guests who hike there to pluck porcinis while en route, so he can incorporate them into fresh pasta dishes.

Krause learned Native Americans would eat the cambium layer of ponderosas and made an extract of the bark’s heady, cinnamon-vanilla aromas. It adorns summer peaches and vanilla ice cream and is the signature of the Old Minam bourbon cocktail. Sip one on the lodge deck as the sun slips below the ridge.

The lodge guest book revealed others felt as I did there, be it a family from Switzerland or those who signed, “Happily Close, Joseph, OR.” Carrie Brownstein, co-founder of the punk-indie trio Sleater-Kinney and the Portlandia cable series, wrote, “Immensely grateful for the reprieve from both city life and the busyness of my own brain. Wonderful company, conversation, food and experience.” Another entry simply said, “Best place in Oregon. Possibly, Earth.”

Getting There, Hiking and Riding

The Minam River Lodge is a rare piece of private land, the only one open to visitors in the Eagle Cap, the state’s largest wilderness area, with 359,991 acres. Access it by hiking or on horseback, 8.5 miles, or via small plane. Minam River Lodge Trail and Hiking Guide by Douglas Lorain details easy strolls and week-long jaunts amid peaks, canyons, four rivers and nearly sixty alpine lakes—all from the lodge porch.

Where There’s Smoke: Controlled Burn Rules Fuel Controversy

New rules around smoke management allow for more prescribed burning, but critics say they don’t go far enough.

It’s a perfect late spring day in Bend. A powder-blue sky contrasts with the craggy, snow-dusted peaks on the western horizon. It’s the kind of afternoon that makes even the most dedicated office denizen want to put down the spreadsheet and grab a mountain bike or running shoes. But today the usually busy biking and hiking trails just west of Bend are largely deserted, closed temporarily so Forest Service employees clad in green khaki pants and yellow, fire-resistant Nomex shirts can do something that predecessors at the once notoriously fire-adverse federal agency could never have imagined—stand back and watch trees burn.

It’s nothing terribly unusual. In fact, it’s regular housekeeping for the Forest Service, which manages much of the public land around Bend and burns anywhere from 1,000 to 6,000 acres of forest land annually in the spring and fall. The burns help rejuvenate the forest and create a buffer between wildfire-prone public lands and the city of Bend, where population growth, particularly on the west side of the city, has encroached on the nearby forest.

When everything goes right, a plume of smoke rises over the forest canopy and then disperses on the prevailing winds, as it does on this day. On the ground, fire engulfs some smaller trees and brush, but barely scars the larger trees that will benefit from less competition and be better prepared for a real wildfire, should it arrive. When it doesn’t go as planned, the smoke from these controlled fires lingers in the foothills, and as the air cools, drops into the river canyon where it often drifts into Bend, aggravating allergies or worse.

A Lingering Issue

The question of how to deal with these smoke “intrusions” vexes fire managers, public health officials, public interest groups and politicians. Until this year, Oregon’s air quality managers enforced what was essentially a zero-tolerance policy for smoke derived from prescribed fires. That policy severely limited when, where and for how long forest managers could light fires. It also created a huge backlog of prescribed fire projects (more than 100,000 acres) that managers say would take decades to complete even if no more acres were added to the roster. But more are being added every day. Some 100,000 acres of fire-ready projects are set to come on-line in the next few years across the Deschutes National Forest.

In an effort designed to find some middle ground between protecting public health and promoting healthy forests, the state of Oregon, led by the Department of Forestry, rewrote the rules around smoke management this year. The zero-tolerance policy was abandoned in favor of a new rule that sets smoke exposure limits that are based on federal air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The rules are intended to create some flexibility around controlled burns, especially in places like Bend, where they are key to promoting both long-term forest health and public safety, while balancing public health concerns. Critics, including the Forest Service, say the new rules don’t go far enough, placing the community in the literal line of fire.

“If we really want to protect our communities, then we are going to have to burn more,” said John Allen, the outgoing Deschutes Forest Supervisor, in a May interview. “It’s unfortunate. You don’t want to have fear-driven motivation, but Paradise (California), the Camp Fire, can happen here,” said Allen, referencing the deadly fire that swept through the community of Paradise, California, outside Chico, last year. That fire, which was sparked by a utility line, killed eighty-five people, many of whom burned to death in their cars attempting to evacuate the fast-moving blaze.

“Our responsibility is to make the public aware of that possibility, and to try to reduce the risk of that happening here,” Allen said.

The issue of community safety gained urgency in recent years as the fire season has grown longer and hotter, and the prospect of a large fire near Bend seems less a matter of if, but when. A recent survey that looked at several factors contributing to wildfire risk exposure put Bend as one of the five most at-risk cities in Oregon (Redmond and Prineville were also in the top ten). Another report by the Forest Service listed Bend as one of the most at-risk for wildfire among cities in the entire West. A mix of climate, a century of fire suppression on public lands, and people’s desire to live closer to the forest in places like Bend, have all contributed to the problem.

There is no silver bullet, but nearly everyone agrees that prescribed, or controlled, burns are the most cost-effective way to create the important buffer zones between cities and forests. These controlled fires are intentionally set on pre-determined parcels, usually under 400 acres, where low-intensity fire can be used to remove smaller trees and vegetation. The fires are closely monitored by fire suppression crews and usually burn out within a few hours.

They also perform important ecological functions in places like Central Oregon where the forests evolved with fire as an integral part of the natural system, a key check in a system of checks and balances that created the mature, healthy ponderosa forests that drew lumber barons to the area more than a century ago. Those forests are long gone, replaced by a second-growth forest of largely uniformly aged, fire-prone trees and supplemented by thick brush that just adds more fuel to the mix.

“We can’t throw more air tankers and fire trucks at the problem,” said Bob Madden, a veteran wildland firefighter and deputy chief of fire operations at the city of Bend.

Madden heads up the city’s coordinated efforts to deal with the wildfire threat. He said the key is getting ahead of the problem by identifying opportunities and having a cohesive strategy.

“We have to make the community safe, and we have to make the forest more resilient. You still need to have a response, but in the past that’s where all of our focus has been, and it’s totally reactive,” Madden said.

Being proactive means smarter urban planning that incorporates fire-resistant home designs, coordinated responses to fires including evacuation and sheltering plans, and well-designed street grids that can handle a high volume of traffic in a short window to get residents out of harm’s way. But the best tactic is to keep fire away from the city by promoting good forest management, including using prescribed fire.

Both Madden and Allen cited the example of the 2017 Milli Fire in Sisters where firefighters were able to contain a blaze that threatened dozens of homes. The fire slowed when it reached an area where the Forest Service had previously conducted a prescribed burn, essentially robbing it of fuel.

“Like most things in life there are trade-offs,” Allen said. “If it hadn’t been for our prescribed fire and fuel treatments, we would have lost the Tollgate and Crossroads subdivisions. And those are the trade-offs.”

Balancing Act

The state’s new smoke management rules will help bring a little more balance to the public health versus public safety debate, said Allen. This year the Forest Service is on track to burn roughly 6,000 acres, most of it around Bend, Sisters and Sunriver, in an area dubbed the WUI (wildland urban interface). That’s more than the agency has been able to burn in any previous year, thanks in large part to the new rules that allow smoke into populated areas, up to certain thresholds.

However, Allen would like to see the state go further, by setting those thresholds at the federal clean air standards, instead of the more restrictive standards that the state adopted as part of a year-plus review process. One of the major sticking points is a one-hour standard adopted at the request of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) that is designed to limit intense short-term smoke exposure. When those levels are exceeded, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) are charged with working with the offending agency or landowner—in Bend that’s usually the Forest Service—to determine why the threshold was breached. The DEQ won’t hand out monetary fines, but they want violators to avoid a repeat offense. DEQ says it’s a learning process as the agency works to establish best practices around the new clean air rules. But there are consequences. Exceeding an air quality threshold on a burn means that a burn in similar size is not likely to be permitted in the future under similar conditions.

“Even though they say it’s a learning process, the quote from the Deschutes National Forest is that, ‘learning equals limiting’,” said Pete Caligiuri, a forest ecologist with The Nature Conservancy in Bend.

Like Forest Supervisor Allen, Caligiuri would like the state to adopt the federal clean air standards, which give more flexibility when it comes to forest management. That’s something that makes sense in Central Oregon where the forests evolved with wildfire and smoke is a natural part of the landscape. More flexibility also decreases the chances of a wildfire spreading near Bend and other Central Oregon communities—something that would have a devastating impact on the landscape and the area’s smoke sensitive populations, including the elderly, the sick and the young, he said.

“Basically by creating this rule, you’re inadvertently creating a disincentive for us to get the highest priority burning done in the wildland urban area,” Caligiuri said.

This is evidenced by the fact that one of the burns undertaken this year near Bend in a high priority area for the Forest Service, violated the one-hour threshold without violating the twenty-four hour standard set by the state and EPA, Caligiuri said.

The current approach doesn’t do enough to balance both sides of the equation.

“We are saying that we are not inventing this [wildfire risk]. Help us think a little more holistically. Help us at least do what we can to put our forests and our community on a safer trajectory here,” he said.

Risk and Responsibility

The new rules were rolled out statewide in April around the start of the prescribed burn season when the forest begins to dry out, but before the heat of the summer when conditions are harder to control. They were the product of input from half a dozen community meetings including two in Central Oregon. They included input from three state agencies, a stakeholder group and federal agencies, including the Forest Service. The goal from the beginning was to provide more leeway to managers like Allen who would like to address the backlog of burn projects, which he said will improve forest health while protecting homes and assets like wildlife habitat and the popular hiking and mountain biking trails that help to drive the region’s tourism economy.

Michael Orman oversees DEQ’s clean air program for the state and said the smoke management rules are revisited once every decade or so, but this process was different in scope and the intent.

“Most of the reviews have been toward more regulation,” Orman said. “Recently, with this last review, there was some pushback based on the reality that wildfire was destroying a lot of the forest, and that we need to do more prescribed burning. The idea was to allow for more opportunity to do that, and that not allowing [smoke] intrusions into [cities] definitely needed to change.”

But just where to draw the line when it came to acceptable levels was a matter of contention from the beginning. Public land managers and forest advocates like Caligiuri wanted more flexibility and a recognition that constricting burning to small acreages in just a few days each season could put the entire community and resource at risk.

On the other side, the Oregon Health Authority wanted protections for smoke sensitive populations. OHA was particularly concerned about short-term events where sensitive populations might be exposed to a high dosage of smoke. The agency said that these types of incidents aren’t covered by the federal standards that average exposures over twenty-four hours, and, therefore, tend to minimize the severity of events that are focused over a shorter window.

“There is really strong evidence that when you reach a certain level of exposure in a short period of time, as short as one hour, that it causes health problems for certain vulnerable populations,” said Kirsten Aird, OHA’s chronic disease program manager who worked on the new rules.

Averaging those incidents out over twenty-four hours doesn’t adequately account for that risk, said Aird. While the one-hour threshold may not be part of the federal guidelines, it’s based on the EPA’s own research that was included in its Integrated Science Assessment released in October.

“It’s over 1,000 pages and decades of research. I don’t want to minimize how very solid the research is,” Aird said.

In the end, the state settled on a compromise. Communities that could develop a plan to inform and protect their vulnerable populations could apply for an exemption to the one-hour standard. Bend and Deschutes County are currently in the process of seeking that exemption, but the initial application filed by Deschutes County on Bend’s behalf was rescinded in April at the state’s request. Deschutes County forester Ed Keith, who worked on the rules and the exemption, said the state requested that the county withdraw the application and rework it or face the prospect of the state formally rejecting the request.

Keith said the state has asked for a more detailed communication strategy and contingency plans, which can include things like opening clean air shelters. As of early June, Keith and other team members were working on a revised application. That will include actions like public service announcements and mass media bulletins, and direct outreach to smoke sensitive populations through text messages.

In the end, though, people living in Central Oregon will have to learn to deal with smoke whether from prescribed burns or the ever more frequent wildfires, Keith said.

“Some of this is a level of personal responsibility. I can’t come into your house and close your windows for you at night. But that’s the best thing you can do to help yourself,” Keith said.

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4 Dishes to Try at Bend’s Food Truck Pods

Must-taste dishes from four food truck pods that serve as the hub of Bend’s foodie revolution. It’s been over a decade since the first food truck popped up in Bend, the iconic silver Airstream trailer with the Spork name emblazoned on the side. That pioneering food cart showed that great cuisine doesn’t require a reservation, a cloth napkin or even a table. Since then, the food truck scene has blossomed. Today, you’ll find dozens of food carts sprinkled across Bend and beyond. There are food carts in Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver, but the epicenter of the revolution is in Bend where food truck clusters like The Lot and On Tap have become go-to destinations. Here’s a look at what you’ll find around Bend along with a few recommendations on what to eat.

On Tap

1424 Cushing Drive

Tucked in a lot on Bend’s eastside near the hospital is On Tap, a food cart pod with a view of Pilot Butte. The attractive three-sided structure at the center of the action presents more than thirty rotating taps featuring a wide variety of beer, cider, wine and kombucha. A handful of tables are inside, and a clear plastic tarp closes off the structure entirely to ward against the weather in the off-season. More tables are outside, as well as cornhole, fire pits and more casual seating to enjoy on warmer days.

“What shall we eat?” we asked Elliot the bartender. “Do you want quality or quantity?” was his response. We opted for both. Quality came at the Bleu Rooster by way of the P.B.L.T (see below). Quantity was Phillystyle Bend’s cheesesteak hoagie—thinly sliced steak with your choice of cheese (cheez whiz is an actual choice) and fried onions on an authentic Amoroso roll. (We overheard another patron happily refer to this selection as a “fat-kid sandwich.”)

If neither is your cup of tea, the six trucks on-site deliver a little bit of everything, from shaved ice and acai bowls to BBQ to momos—hand-made dumplings stuffed with meats and veggies, noodles, and other delights inspired by the Himalayas.

Visit on Monday for local day with happy hour prices on beverages all day, and check the website for regular trivia nights and live music events. Kick back in the summer air and give a toast to the sun setting over Pilot Butte at this eastside enclave.

Dish not to miss: Blue Rooster’s PBLT

The former executive chef of Bend local’s favorite brunch restaurant CHOW brought his culinary genius to the food truck Bleu Rooster to make “global cuisine, family-inspired.” The menu is lush with dishes like pomme frites to a Cubano, but the piece de resistance is the PBLT—crispy pork belly with Sriracha aioli, lettuce, tomato, and house-made bacon-tomato jam on Big Ed’s brioche bun.

The Lot

745 NW Columbia Street

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then Dave Staley should be downright embarrassed at all the praise for The Lot, his west side food cart collective that has become the template for nearly every food truck business in Central Oregon.

Staley and his wife Michelle acquired what was previously a “weed-covered lot” in 2012 and spent more than a year working through the permitting process for the business, the first of its kind in Bend that provided not just food carts but a central gathering space to enjoy the diverse food options, plus craft beer on tap to wash it down.

Staley obsessed over the details, designing a scale model of The Lot in his garage prior to construction, and it shows. He designed the decorative lava rock wall, added a gas fire pit and then worked to evolve the design, adding roll-up garage doors that made it suitable as a four-season destination.

“That was part of the fun, doing something that no one had done,” said Staley.

He hasn’t stopped tinkering and experimenting, as evidenced by his decision to buy an old double-decker bus that he converted into a food truck kitchen in partnership with Brandon Chambers of À la Carte, one of the tenants at The Lot. Dubbed Frickin Faco, the bus/truck specializes in fried chicken and fish tacos and offers patrons seating on the upper deck of the retrofitted double-decker.

Dish not to miss: A La Carte’s Vladimir Poutine

We love a good play on words and this shareable dish hits all the right notes. Cheese curds nestled greasily on a bed of thin-cut fries and topped with beef and cajun season scream cardiac collusion. For something more traditional, try the Po Boy Fried Chicken Sandwich from Frickin Faco. Battered and deep-fried hunks of chicken are stuffed into a Big Ed’s potato bun and topped with homemade slaw, pickles and lime aioli.

River’s Place

787 NE Purcell Boulevard

The restaurant scene has been traditionally sparse on the east side. A pair of food truck lots has helped to fill the void. The newest of those is River’s Place, a homey space tucked behind the Subaru dealership (welcome Westsiders!) near Costco.

River’s Place follows the winning formula developed at places like The Lot and Tumalo’s The Bite, with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating separated by a pair of roll-up garage doors and windows that easily seal out the elements on those days when a puffy coat just isn’t enough. But River’s Place really shines in summer when customers can sprawl out across the lawn that includes a kids’ play area, gas fire pit and casual seating flanked by almost half a dozen food carts.

Choose from hand-tossed personal pizzas, island flavors, hoagies and more. Inside, welded stools let you belly up to high-top tables and take in a ballgame or drill down on a bingo card. Casual seating in the corner is there for extended chill sessions and quickly converts to a stage for live music. Use a Costco run as an excuse to drop by if you must, but River’s Place is worth a trip.

Dish not to miss: The Zone of Bend’s La Cubana Calzone

A calzone like you’ve never seen. The Zone of Bend’s La Cubana Calzone blends Italian and Cuban influences to create something out of the ordinary and very delicious. A combination of ham, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles are all artfully enclosed within a crispy pocket. Matt, whose Italian roots and his wife’s Cuban background intertwine in this culinary creation, has brought a unique twist to the typical calzone.

Podski

536 NW Arizona Avenue

Podski

With ten food carts, Podski is a culinary alcove that can handle overflow traffic from the adjacent Box Factory area but it’s become a destination in its own right. The space, which debuted in 2018, features a fully enclosed beer garden and seating area, along with ample outdoor picnic tables and a cozy fire pit.

Developer Mikel Lomsky said of the food truck cuisine, “I’m trying to get a taste of everything around.” And he’s done just that, you can get your Polish pierogies from Big Skis, fresh oysters at Mother Shuckers and a sweet treat from Little Slice of Heaven Cheesecakes all in one place. Pick up your favorite Thai dish from Thailandia or chow down on tacos from Tacos la Catrina.

“It kind of depends on what part of the world you want to do that day,” said Lomsky, who wisely declined to say if he had a favorite dish among his vendors’ offerings. With so much to choose from, from sushi to charcuterie, it’s hard to blame him for not being able to single out just one for praise.

Dish not to miss: Toasty’s Nacho Crunchwrap

Prepare to have your perceptions of plant-based dining completely upended by Toasty’s scrumptious vegan nacho crunch wraps. These delectable creations have been causing quite a buzz since the tin cart opened its doors in 2020. And for good reason, the perfectly grilled tortilla that cradles creamy avocado, hearty beans, Beyond Meat and a luscious vegan nacho cheese sauce combines to create a truly mouthwatering dish. This tribute to the iconic Taco Bell meal has quickly become a beloved local favorite and is proof that plant-based dining doesn’t have to be boring.

La Pine’s Badland Distillery and Food Trucks | Read more about our local food trucks with 5 Bend Food Trucks to Track Down. Or head over to our Central Oregon Dining Guide for more on Central Oregon’s dining scene.

Mountain Biking Trails for Beginners
Compiled by Danielle Meyers and Bend Magazine Staff | Article updated May 25, 2023

Mountain biking in Central Oregon is often associated with exhilarating descents, challenging climbs and adrenaline rushes. However, the picturesque trails surrounding Bend offer a wide range of options suitable for all riders, catering to everyone from families seeking leisurely rides to adventurous individuals craving technical challenges. While newcomers to the sport may initially find the trails intimidating, fear not! Bend boasts numerous beginner-friendly trails, providing an ideal entry point into the world of mountain biking, which dominates the city during the summer and fall seasons. Let’s explore three accessible trails to conquer this season and find out where to rent essential gear in town.

Prior to embarking on a mountain biking adventure, it’s crucial to be fully equipped with the necessary gear. Ensure you have all the essentials, like a hydration pack, riding gloves and a helmet. Opt for lightweight and comfortable exercise clothing, allowing for additional layers if needed. Don’t forget to wear lightweight athletic shoes, as they work best for tackling the trails. Whether you prefer to venture solo or join a guided tour, informing someone outside your group about your planned route for the day is essential.

Couple on easy mountain biking trail in Bend
Photo by Trevor Lyden

Beginner-Friendly Mountain Bike Trails 

Shevlin Park Loop Trail

Shevlin Park is the perfect place to embark on a maiden mountain biking adventure. Offering a gentle ride, the Shevlin Park Loop Trail spans 4.6 miles while maintaining a predominantly flat terrain through a beautiful forested landscape. For those seeking a greater challenge, the Shevlin Park Loop Trail conveniently links to the more challenging Mrazek Trail, where riders can test out a more exhilarating mountain biking experience. Shevlin Park is a popular destination for hikers and dog walkers, so be sure to keep an eye out for fellow trail-goers and their furry companions.

Ben’s Trail

Seeking an ideal mountain biking initiation to Phil’s Trail complex? Look no further than Ben’s Trail. Beginning at the trailhead, Ben’s Trail offers a flat terrain at the outset, gradually ascending in elevation. Be prepared for a challenging and rocky segment on the way up before embarking on an exhilarating descent. Covering a distance of 5.5 miles, Ben’s Trail primarily consists of singletrack, but keep an eye out for offshoots like the MTB, Voodoo or KGB trails. These alternate routes allow you to create a loop back to the trailhead, providing additional variety and excitement instead of following Ben’s Trail to its conclusion.

Suttle Lake Loop

Immerse yourself in the stunning scenery surrounding Suttle Lake with the Suttle Lake Loop Trail. Located just outside Sisters, this trail offers a captivating ride near the water’s edge. Spanning 3.6 miles, the Suttle Lake Loop Trail maintains a predominantly flat terrain, with an elevation gain of less than 500 feet. As you ride along the singletrack trail, expect to navigate over rocks and stumps and pass by charming campsites. After the scenic ride, reward yourself with a refreshing dip in the lake or head to Suttle Lake Lodge to relax, indulge in a cool drink or refuel with a tasty snack.

Man riding downhill mountain bike trail
Photo by Trevor Lyden

Rentals and Tours:


Hutch’s

Since 1981, Hutch’s Bicycles has been one of Bend’s go-to bike stores. With a passion for bicycles and a commitment to customer satisfaction, they offer year-round support to the biking community. See hutchsbicycles.com.

Westside: 725 NW Columbia St. | 541-382-9253 

Eastside: 820 NE 3rd St. | 541-382-6248

 


 

Pine Mountain Sports

Pine Mountain Sports is the ultimate destination for mountain bikers in Bend. With the largest fleet of demo mountain bikes in the region they have everything riders need to conquer the diverse range of mountain biking trails in Central Oregon. See pinemountainsports.com.

255 SW Century Dr. | 541-385-8080

 


 

Cog Wild Bike Rental

The guides at Cog Wild Bike Rental, a touring company and Pine Mountain Sports partner, will expertly lead you and your group along the Central Oregon trails. Stop for mid-ride refreshments and enjoy complimentary drinks from local favorites like Deschutes Brewery, Crater Lake Spirits and Humm Kombucha. See cogwild.com

9221 SW Century Dr. / 541-385-7002


Click here to read more Central Oregon adventure stories with us!

Weekend Roundup: June 12-16

The circus is in town this month—check it out at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. There’s also live storytelling, a festival for public lands and a favorite foodie event in Bend.

Photo courtesy of Bite of Bend

Venardos Circus
June 13-23 | Deschutes Expo Center, Redmond | $15-$45

It’s the opening weekend of the Venardos Circus, a limited-run event held at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. It’s an animal-free circus in a Broadway style that will entertain families with acrobatics, juggling, balancing, comedy, magic and more.

BHA Campfire Stories
June 13 | Tower Theatre, Bend | $28

Don’t miss out on Campfire Stories, a great live storytelling event. Outdoor enthusiasts always have great stories, and on Friday night they’ll be at the Tower Theatre telling their true adventure stories live. The event is hosted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Bite of Bend
June 14-16 | Downtown Bend | Free Entry

Bite of Bend features the best of the region’s culinary scene. Chefs, brewers, bartenders and home cooks will be showcasing their skills in demos, competitions and more. Browse the local marketplace, hang out in the Family Play Zone and taste the bounty of the region.

Beers, Bands and Public Lands
June 15 | Drake Park, Bend | Free

This is the third annual event for Beers, Bands and Public Lands. Held in Drake Park, the event will have live music all day, local food and drinks, raffles and games and opportunities to learn more about why public lands matter.

Live Music

The Roots are playing at Les Schwab Amphitheater on Friday night. Also on Friday night, catch an acoustic performance of The Offspring at Midtown Ballroom.

Weekend Roundup: June 5-9

The Sisters Rodeo is happening this weekend along with Art in the Park, Maupin Madness, Pride Golf Day and some live music to kick off the summer concert season.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Sisters Rodeo
June 5-9 | Sisters | $14-$22

The Sisters Rodeo is one of the most popular events in Central Oregon each year. Now in its 79th year, the rodeo draws the top riders and ropers to the high desert to compete. Bring the whole family to experience the region’s Western heritage and community spirit.

Maupin Madness Poker Run, Bike Show & Chili Cook-Off
June 8-9 | Maupin | Prices vary

Maupin Madness is an annual event that benefits veterans. Join the 200-mile scenic ride through Central Oregon that ends at the Imperial River Company with a chili cook-off, beer garden and live music.

Art in the Park
June 8-9 | Creekside Park, Sisters | Free

This is the fifteenth year of Art in the Park, a festival that takes place in Sisters during the Sisters Rodeo weekend. There will be local vendors with fine arts and crafts, artisan goods, and local food and drinks.

Pride Golf Day
June 8 | Juniper Golf Course, Bend | $80

This is the first annual Pride Golf Day, an event created by Out Central Oregon. The LGBTQ+ community is invited to Juniper Golf Course for a day of activities that will include an instruction clinic, rounds of golf, lawn games, and more. The evening will be capped off with dinner and dancing.

Live Music

On Friday night, Longbeach Dub Allstars will be headlining at Midtown Ballroom. At McMenamins, Moody Little Sisters takes the stage Wednesday and Toast and Jam will be play on Thursday. And finally, end the weekend with a concert by the Deschutes River. Jason Isbell and Father John Misty kick off the concert season at the Les Schwab Amphitheater on Sunday evening.

NW Woodlands Offers Affordable Homes With Custom Finishes

Sponsored Content

Northwest Woodlands a new neighborhood that offers homes made by a custom-home builder starting at $400,000.

Woodlands Neighborhood

Across the street from Bend’s recently opened Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, just a short drive to downtown Bend, is Northwest Woodlands, a new northwest Bend neighborhood that offers rustic modern homes with attractive finishes at an affordable price point. The neighborhood features large trees, spacious lots and a friendly layout near the new North Star Elementary School, making it a perfect location for families.

Angie Mombert and Brent Landels of The Cascadia Group at RE/MAX Key Properties represent the neighborhood, which has sixteen sites available. Buyers may choose to engage the talents of neighborhood builder R.D. Building & Design, or purchase a home site and bring in their own builder.

R.D. Building & Design owner Ryan Duble brings twenty years of Central Oregon construction experience to the Northwest Woodlands project. Duble is well-known for his custom home building work in Bend. For the homes in Northwest Woodlands, Duble developed home designs that are elevated by custom touches, without the custom price tag. “Buyers get to have the same type of feel as a custom build, without the same cost that is typically entailed in a custom build,” explained broker Brent Landels. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

Woodlands Neighborhood

Home designs in Northwest Woodlands include desirable features such as tall ceilings, engineered wood flooring, quality cabinets, beautiful appliances, a gas fireplace, as well as artfully selected tile work and decorative light fixtures. Details like tall doors, lower-pitched roofs and stacked windows that reach to the floor add a luxury feel to each of the homes. The garage also offers ample storage for cars and gear, while front-yard drought-tolerant landscaping maintains the natural look of Bend’s terrain.

For those buyers wishing to add on even more accoutrements to their home, Duble’s experience in custom home building makes him well suited to the task. “Duble is a hands-on builder who brings attention to the little details,” said Landels. “He is involved at every stage to ensure a finished product that meets both his and the homeowners’ expectations.”

Duble will be at each home site throughout the building process. “I want to make sure the homeowners are truly getting what they want,” said Duble.

Woodlands Neighborhood

Working alongside Duble is project manager and interior designer Tia Hanson, who has a master’s degree in interior architecture and design. Hanson designs the interior and exterior of the homes, creates custom features the clients can choose from and keeps a consistent design stamp across the homes, ensuring the neighborhood’s future value. Her designs bring a custom aesthetic to the neighborhood.

Each buyer will get to work directly with Duble and Hanson to put their own touches into the home. “Each house will have unique character,” said Hanson. Clients may choose to upgrade features like windows, light fixtures, tile, and appliances, or even make small adjustments to the floor plan.

Homes in the neighborhood offer a blend of contemporary and rustic design. “While there is a contemporary feel, it’s still very much a Bend neighborhood,” said Hanson. Warm elements inspired by the Pacific Northwest soften otherwise clean, modern lines to nurture the sense that this neighborhood belongs just minutes from the forested banks of the Deschutes River. “Expect bold but comfortable designs,” added Mombert.

Woodlands Neighborhood

With only sixteen homes in the neighborhood, the lots have ample space . Homesites are defined by large trees with space for drought-tolerant landscaping suitable for the high desert aridity.

Northwest Woodlands home are designed in three-bedroom layouts. Some homes offer bonus rooms, or the master bedroom on the main level, and there are both single-story and two-story layouts. Prices for the homes range from $400,000 to $600,000, depending on the custom design features in each home. “Northwest Woodlands will be a terrific family neighborhood with beautiful homes full of custom touches,” said Landels.

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Bend Kitchen Blends Modernity With Rustic Style

This home kitchen in Southeast Bend is an example of this cross between modern and rustic, with touches of industrial hardware.

Rustic Kitchen

Baby boomers may recall the popular television show “The Jetsons” and the futuristic family’s ultra-modern lifestyle, which included a household helper named Rosie the Robot. That once-fantastical lifestyle is trending towards reality as kitchens evolve towards high-technological centers.

While high technology is popping up more and more in the kitchen, styles are going back in time. Ultra-white kitchens have been trending the last few years, but designers are now seeing a return to a cross between rustic and modern styles. Contrasting different textures like woods and metals to create a rich and nuanced look, while at the same time incorporating high technology into the kitchen, is all the rage.

The Coupar-Marina home kitchen in Southeast Bend is an example of this cross between modern and rustic, with touches of industrial hardware. Kristin Coupar and her partner Sonia Marina wanted a warm and inviting look for their new home. Pops of color in matte finishes, like their grey kitchen cabinetry, adds depth and warmth, while clean lines of the cabinet design keep the style minimalist. Matte finishes also reduce the appearance of fingerprints and dirt. All the while, the kitchen is designed for high-performance, with the finest in technology and appliances.

A fourteen-foot, single-level black matte quartz island stretches the length of this rectangular kitchen, serving as the center of activity. In the center is a six-burner Thermador stove and double oven, with an inset griddle. As an avid chef, Coupar insisted this arrangement be set into the island, so that the chef at work faces out towards the living room. “When we have guests and I’m cooking, I want to be part of the party and conversation,” says Coupar, a retired law enforcement officer.

Rustic Kitchen

The biggest conversation piece in the kitchen is above Coupar as she’s cooking for friends. The custom-made hood/vent is comprised of texturized powder-coated iron around stained wood. This statement piece matches a wall surrounding a wood burning stove in the living room. The layered look that incorporates different metals and woods, provides a laid-back rustic look, and yet has an elegant touch.

To go with this bold industrial style, the couple installed black metal hanging caged pendant lamps that drop over the island. While recessed lighting has been the norm in the past decade in kitchens, pendant lighting is making a comeback. On the cabinetry, they installed the perfect pulls for their cupboards and drawers, with the industrial, gun metal patina look they were going for.

The backsplash for the sink wall is the latest take on subway tiles. Instead of plain white and one dimensional, these tiles are in different hues of grey with angled surface cuts. The couple opted for white granite countertops with veins of grey and black. Sonia Marina demonstrates her smart kitchen faucet that automatically turns on the water with a simple wave of the hand.

Rustic Kitchen

Another high-tech built-in appliance the couple installed is the steam oven. Coupar demonstrates how her new steam oven works, pointing out a special section that holds the water for the steam to permeate food as it bakes. The steam keeps foods moist, reducing the need to add extra fats to baked goods.

A weathered grey barn door next to the kitchen slides away to reveal the butler pantry, where they hide their appliances like the toaster and microwave oven. In this pantry, Coupar shows off her appliance with the most whimsy—a retro Smeg brand refrigerator decorated in the U.S. flag motif.

Handling heating and cooling needs for the couple’s kitchen is a Nest system. This learning thermostat handles home temperatures with efficiency, as well as remotely from computers and phones.

Even with all the newest trends and technological advances that continue to evolve in the modern kitchen, some things like a good old-fashioned meal with family and friends will still remain the same. Whether a quiet night home for two, or with a house full of guests, the Coupar-Marina kitchen shines.

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Mastering The Art of Open Shelving

How to update your kitchen with open shelving, a trend that’s not so new after all.

Kitchen with open shelving

Popularized by reality remodeling TV and expertly curated Instagram feeds, open shelving is the current darling of kitchen updates. But open shelving isn’t really a new trend after all. Before all of our chipped dishware, best-dad-ever mugs and mismatched wine glasses were hidden behind cabinet doors, it was common for dishware to be displayed and easily accessed. It was only into the 20th century that everything went behind cabinet doors.

Open shelving is an affordable and easy way to update a kitchen. It can also bring some needed personality into the most used room in the house, allowing knickknacks, art, plants and more to be displayed alongside coffee mugs.

In a small kitchen, open shelving that is painted the same color as the walls can provide the illusion of a larger space. Conversely, installing shelving that stands out, especially if it is used in just one area, can have a big impact on the look of the kitchen—white lacquered shelves can turn a kitchen into something Joanna Gaines would approve of, while steel or copper on top of a brick wall can make a kitchen look like it came straight from an urban loft.

Kitchen with open shelving
Consider pairing dishware with other objects like utensils or jars of spices for variety.

There are some risks to be considered before unscrewing hinges or tearing down a cabinet.

One factor to consider is if mismatched plates, glasses and mugs fit the kitchen’s aesthetic. Those nostalgic mugs that have been in use since college might be sentimental, but in the open air they may not compare to a crisp set of new dishes that are often shown in glossy magazines and home tours with open shelving. It can be tempting to want to update everything from water glasses to flatware when it’s in full-view of every day—and that update does not always come cheap.

One trick to ease in to open shelving is to start by just taking off the cabinet doors. That, plus a fresh coat of paint on the remaining cabinet shelves, can help remodelers decide if open shelving suits their lifestyle. That built-in look also adds a new element to the trend that is reminiscent of the 19th century farm kitchens, and it won’t break the bank or require a demo day.

When it comes to styling the shelves, less is more. This part of the process may require one to channel their inner Marie Kondo (of the now ubiquitous “Konmarie” method. Does this platter spark joy? If not, and it hasn’t been used since in a few years, maybe it’s time to donate.) Leave out only the number of dishes that need to be used each day. The rest can be stored in a pantry or bottom cabinets.

Kitchen with open shelving.
When it comes to styling the shelves, less is more.

Consider pairing dishware with something green to liven up the space, like a houseplant that does well in a variety of temperatures and environments. A favorite keepsake or tsotchke could also be used here to contrast a collection of monochrome dishware. A canister of coffee could be set next to mugs; a set of cookbooks could be displayed alongside plates—get creative with the infinite possibilities for adding some character into the kitchen.

These Plants Will Perk Up An Overlooked Room in Your Home

The best plants for your bathroom that can withstand a range of temperatures and humidity.

A pop of green can liven up one of the smallest and perhaps most overlooked spaces in your home when it comes to design, the bathroom. Houseplants keep the air around you fresh and add life to a room, but choosing a plant that will thrive can be difficult. In a bathroom, which can have wide temperature fluctuations, low light and varied degrees of humidity, choosing the right plant for the space is necessary. Here are a few options of plants that would work well in any contemporary bathroom design and space.

Asparagus Fern
asparagus aethiopicus

The asparagus fern is a low maintenance plant that is neither a fern nor a vegetable, but its needle-like leaves are soft and airy and will provide a magical quality to this greenery. The plant should be kept moist as well as in varied shade, which makes the bathroom the perfect place to decorate with this plant in your home. Place it on a shelf and let the needles hang for a dreamy effect.

Asparagus Fern
Asparagus Fern

Air Plants
tillandsia

Air plants come in hundreds of shapes and sizes and require much less attention than other house plants. If they are submerged in water every two to three weeks and misted every few days, given enough bright filtered light and allowed to dry before placed in a glass terrarium, the plants should thrive in a bathroom setting. Each air plant can look unique and is an affordable addition to bathroom greenery.

Air Plants
Air Plants

Aloe Vera
aloe barbadensis miller

These hardy succulents will do well in a bathroom with bright, indirect light and humidity—just be sure to keep the plant in a pot with a hole in the bottom so that it can drain any excess water. The serrated leaves, which contain that cooling elixir you can your use on your skin after a day in the sun, will grow up and out. Place your aloe on a wooden bench in an underutilized corner for a spa-like atmosphere.

Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera

Viper’s Bowstring Hemp
sansevieria trifasciata

Commonly known as the snake plant, Viper’s Bowstring Hemp is a plant that comes with the added wow factor of height that will elevate any bathroom design. A benefit to the snake plant is that it can be forgotten about for weeks at a time and continue to thrive in your home, while still helping cleanse the air of toxins. The blend of green and yellow in the plant will complement many different design aesthetics.

Viper’s Bowstring Hemp
Viper’s Bowstring Hemp
Tumalo Offers Community, Scenery and Acreage

Real estate in Tumalo is a gem of a find in this small community just outside of Bend.

Tumalo at dusk
Photo By Heirloom Images Photography

Tumalo sits on the outskirts of Bend, west of the city en route to Sisters. Known for wide open spaces and a western vibe, the unincorporated area with a small town center has long been a favorite alternative for those looking for acreage, views, privacy and maybe a barn or horse arena. For residents, Tumalo is one of the growing communities of Central Oregon that has also maintained its small-town charm and a balanced lifestyle.

Putting down roots in Tumalo is exactly what Marie Timm and her family did almost fifteen years ago. Like others before, Timm was drawn to the landscape and the lifestyle, but mostly the chance to escape the rain.

“We lived in Portland and Seattle,” said Timm. “When you live on the wet side, all you want to do is dry out.” So they’d come to Central Oregon, and in 2003 found the small, quiet town of Tumalo.

Timm and her husband bought five acres, and the first thing they did was build a barn among the sagebrush and juniper trees that drew them to the region.

“Tumalo, the town itself, was pretty much just the gas station and the little store across the street that sells produce and a small Mexican restaurant and Lodgepole,” she said. “Now, there are speed limit signs,” she said, adding, “With all the population increase comes some good things.”

Tumalo Feed Company
Tumalo Feed Company. Photo by Alex Jordan

Tumalo, originally called Laidlaw, was planned to be the hub of Central Oregon. But when the Southern Railroad was diverted to Bend in 1910 and the Tumalo Irrigation Project failed to deliver water as promised, the people and the post office migrated to Bend, which became the center of the region. But Tumalo never died; the post office reopened in 1923, and the town changed its name to Tumalo.

Throughout its life, Tumalo has kept a population of just a few hundred people. Agriculture is still the backbone of the town, but small businesses are the heart of it. Today, Tumalo is home to more than a handful of locally owned businesses. Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse, a longstanding restaurant on the highway, has become recently managed by a young couple eager to keep the family-friendly atmosphere alive. Across the highway, The Bite is a popular food cart pod that serves some of the best dishes in the region.

Places like Tumalo Garden Market and Beyond the Ranch Antiques offer personal expertise to homeowners. Other local businesses include Tumalo Coffeehouse and Pisano’s Woodfired Pizza. Nearby, Bendistillery is a local spirit maker that is open for tours and tastings.

Farmer John's grocery store.
Farmer John’s grocery store. Photo by Alex Jordan

As Bend has become a popular tourist destination on the West Coast, Tumalo has drawn visitors as well. Recreation opportunities include camping at Tumalo State Park, floating the Deschutes River and riding the horse trails.

For Timm and her husband, a software project and engineering manager, living in Tumalo suits their lifestyle. The couple has run marathons and participated in triathlons. They spend their free time on bikes in the mountains, and they often ride their bikes into downtown Bend.

“It just fits who we are,” said Timm.

Timm said she and her husband have loved their location on the west side of Tumalo because it feels like they live in the foothills of the mountains. The area has attracted others who are looking to build on land, with more space between homes, and unparalleled views of the Cascade Mountain Range and Deschutes River.

Real estate in Tumalo is a gem of a find. Most parcels have significant space, around twenty acres, because of the farmland zoning. The median home price is around $500,000, with houses and land selling in a range of price points.

With just around 500 people, the town has maintained its charm even in the region’s growth. It’s also become a sought-after area for telecommuters, or even people who work in Bend or Redmond but are looking for a more rural lifestyle. For families, Tumalo sits in the Redmond School District.

As Central Oregon continues its rapid growth, expect to hear more about Tumalo, the little town that has become more than just a stopover on the way to the dry side of the mountains. Its location, scenery and lifestyle have driven people to the town for almost a century, for good reason.

Tumalo Coffeehouse
Tumalo Coffeehouse. Photo by Alex Jordan.
Weekend Roundup: May 15-19

Some great community events take place this weekend, including the iconic Pole Pedal Paddle and the annual Maupin Daze.

Pole Pedal Paddle
May 18 | Bend | Registration prices vary

The Pole Pedal Paddle is the one-of-a-kind athletic event that brings out the community. Build a team or take on the course on your own. Competitors will ski, bike, paddle and run from Mt. Bachelor to the Old Mill District. Even if you don’t participate, it’s a fun event to watch and support.

Maupin Daze
May 18 | Maupin | Free

Get to know the small town on the Lower Deschutes River at the annual Maupin Daze event. A parade kicks off the day at 10 a.m. There will be local vendors and arts and crafts at Kaiser Park on Main Street, a food truck, book sale and more. Rafting companies are offering special deals for day-trips if you want to hit the water with your family.

Civil War Reenactment and Living History
May 18-19 | House on the Metolius, Camp Sherman | $5-$8

More than 200 Civil War reenactors will be at the House on the Metolius in Camp Sherman for the annual event. There will be reenactment scenes as well as living history that you can explore.

Asian Pacific Islander Festival
May 18 | COCC | Free

May is National Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. On Saturday, Central Oregon Community College’s Coats Campus Center is hosting its annual Asian-Pacific Islander Festival. There will be cultural performances, ethnic cuisine from local restaurants, arts and crafts and more at this free event.

Live Music

There are a lot of great options for live music this weekend. At McMenamins, Appaloosa is playing on Wednesday and Mexican Gunfight will follow up on Thursday. The Subdudes, an American roots rock group, will be playing on Thursday night at the Tower. Immersion Brewing’s third anniversary party with live music from Dirty Revival takes place on Friday.

5 Food & Drink Festivals in Bend This Season

Mark you calendars for these food and drink festivals that will take place around Central Oregon this spring and summer.

Bend Brewfest at the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon

Bite of Bend

When: June 14-16
Where: Downtown Bend

Taste the local bounty of the region at Bite of Bend. The chefs, bartenders, brewers, winemakers and food enthusiasts take over the streets of downtown Bend for three days of culinary delight. There are cooking demonstrations and chef competitions, mixology showcases, local vendors, a family play zone and more.

Cork & Barrel

When: July 18-20
Where: Broken Top Club

In a region obsessed with beer, Cork & Barrel is a three-day event that is all about wine. A fundraiser for the KIDS Center in Bend, Cork & Barrel will feature wineries from Southern Oregon. Meet the winemakers, taste wine and food pairings, and join exclusive dinners throughout the weekend.

Sisters Rhythm & Brews Festival

When: July 26-27
Where: Village Green City Park

Good music and good beer are the heart of the Rhythm & Brews Festival in Sisters. This is the second year for the festival that takes place in Village Green City Park. The 2019 lineup will include Larkin Poe, Mr. Sipp, The White Buffalo, Sassparilla, Hillstomp and more.

Bend Brewfest

When: August 15-17
Where: Old Mill District

There are more than 200 craft beers, cider and wine to try at Bend Brewfest. The August event draws tens of thousands of people to the Old Mill District to taste new brews and meet the brewmasters. There are food trucks on site and live music to close out each night.

Little Woody Aged Beer & Whiskey Festival

When: August 30-31
Where: Deschutes Historical Museum

The Little Woody Aged Beer & Whiskey Festival is one of the best events of the summer. The festival is smaller compared to Bend Brewfest, but it also has a unique selection of barrel-aged beers and whiskeys that you won’t get to try anywhere else. The event has local vendors, food trucks, and live music—all in a community atmosphere.

Hollyman Design Named Best Home Designer of 2018

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Award-winning Hollyman Design makes a strong entrance into the Central Oregon design market.

Darrin Hollyman
Darrin Hollyman

In 2018, the Central Oregon Builder’s Association honored Darrin Hollyman with the Home Designer of the Year award. Hollyman has drawn hundreds of homes in his twenty-five-year career, met amazing people and been rewarded with many happy clients. But winning this award, he said, was his highest honor to date. “It’s so humbling, and such a high tribute, to be honored by your peers.”

Hollyman’s career began in the early 1990s with an associate’s degree in architectural design from a building design school in Arizona. A native Oregonian, Hollyman returned home and worked for an architect on the Oregon Coast and a structural engineering firm in Eugene before moving to Bend, where for twenty years he worked for a high-end custom home design/build firm, designing homes under a lead designer.

Last year, Hollyman hung up his own shingle and launched a new business, Hollyman Design. “I was ready to be more directly involved with clients, to have more creativity and autonomy,” he explained.

With two decades of experience living and working in Central Oregon, Hollyman understands—and respects— the natural environment and the land on which he designs homes.

“I believe strongly in respecting and working within the existing environment, by carefully designing and placing homes that blend into the natural landscape of the desired community,” he said. “Preserving the natural beauty of Central Oregon is key to my design.”

Recent Hollyman Design projects include a 3000-square-foot, large-scale Craftsman bungalow on Awbrey Butte, a high desert lodge home and an addition to a home near Mirror Pond which required a historic review. With each project, Hollyman connects with the future homeowners to achieve their intentions.

“I spend significant time with the client, to come up with a list of their wishes,” he said.

To achieve the synchrony with the land that he intends, Hollyman spends time on the lot, understanding where the views are, where the sun comes up, where are good areas to spend time both inside and out.

“I believe Central Oregon provides beautiful and unprecedented outdoor living and my designs are carefully thought out so that the flow is natural going both in and out,” he said. “I want the home to look like it belongs there—like it’s supposed to be there.”

Hollyman has designed multi-family and single-family dwellings as well as ADUs and additions since opening his own business last year. In the length of his career, he’s designed homes for many local high-end communities and neighborhoods, including Pronghorn, Broken Top, Crosswater, Sunriver, North Rim and Tetherow, often being the designer of contact for design review and submittals. Hollyman has recently been approved as a Professional Designer in Brasada Ranch.

With so many years of experience and so many homes designed under his belt, and even a major award won, one reward remains the same for Hollyman— designing a home that a new owner will love. “I like making people happy,” he said.

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Six Ideas For A Date Night in Bend

Whether it’s your first date or your 100th, here’s our shortlist of where to go and what to do for a date night in Bend when you want to add a something extra into the evening.

date night ideas in Bend
Photo by Alex Jordan

I’m no expert at dating in Bend. I had my share of the good, the bad and the ugly dates before meeting my partner. My only advice is to skip the standard small talk over brewery pints and try out some of these fun options for date nights. You’ll have more fun and probably get better stories out of it, too.

Stand-up Comedy

On one of my first Tinder dates in Bend, the guy took me to see live comedy at what was then Summit Saloon. It was a great idea for a first date because we were able to laugh and there wasn’t too much time for awkward small talk. There’s a great scene of stand-up comedy in Bend (even without Summit, R.I.P). Bend Comedy hosts stand-up comedy nights around town each week. They usually take place at Seven Nightclub downtown. Grab drinks at a bar downtown first, then settle in to laugh.

Trivia

Bend has a ton of options for trivia nights at bars and breweries. Get a group of friends together to make a team, or try it out as a duo. You’ll probably learn something new and impress your date with your general knowledge sans Siri. Silver Moon Brewing, The Astro Lounge, Worthy Brewing and The Lot all have trivia each week.

Wine Tasting

Craft beer gets all the attention in Bend, but the town has its share of intimate wine bars where you can try out some nice pours in a quiet atmosphere without emptying your wallet. In the Old Mill District, try a flight of wines at Naked Winery or Va Piano Vineyards. Both have a small section for outdoor seating, so you can enjoy sipping wine al fresco. In downtown Bend, find a collection of international wines at The Good Drop Wine Shoppe. And in NorthWest Crossing, Portello has a great food menu with snacks to enjoy on while you share a sip.

Films

There’s a reason dinner and movie prevails as one of the timeless date options. It’s a nice mix of casual conversation and pressure free entertainment, plus a movie can offer a glimpse into your date’s personality and tastes. In Bend, Regal has the new releases, McMenamins has the cajun tots and comfortable couches, but Tin Pan Theatre, recently purchased by BendFilm, shows a rotating selection of indie films that you won’t see anywhere else in town. Impress your partner with your cultured side by grabbing tickets to see a new film at the independent theater tucked away in the alley.

Games

Downtown Bend also has some fun bars where you can play games and drink, which is always a good way to pass the time on a new date without having to make too much small talk. Duda’s Billiard Bar has a handful of tables where you can show off your pool skills, as well as darts upstairs. Around the corner, Vector Volcano has old-school video games, offering endless replay of the classics that claimed so many of our quarter dollars as kids. Vector also has one of the city’s best pinball machine assortments and a selection of local brews on tap, so you can bond over your nostalgic sides while you drink. Still got more game? Head over to J.C.’s and play a round of giant Jenga (watch your toes!) and then drift down to McMenamins for a game of shuffleboard.

Happy Hour

Of course, there is always the old standby: happy hour. Less of a commitment than dinner, but a bit more formal than a round of beers, happy hour is a classic first date for good reason. Plus, it’s a good way to try out some of downtown Bend’s best restaurants without breaking the bank. Share some drinks, share some bites, and when the check comes you can either keep the night going with one of the ideas above, or part ways and make it back home in time for your favorite shows (which is what you really want to be doing anyways, right?).

Inside A Modern Ranch Retreat in Bend’s Tree Farm

Sponsored Content

Take a tour inside this modern ranch retreat, a custom home built by Norman Building & Design in the new Bend neighborhood The Tree Farm.

At home in the forest.

When Mac and Patti Douglas moved from Seattle to Bend four years ago, they bought a house in Broken Top. While they loved the large, refined-style home in the high-end development, and especially its very livable layout, the location wasn’t quite right. “We wanted more privacy, and a view,” recalled Patti.

They searched for some time for a new home, but the right place didn’t materialize. What they found was either too dated, too large, or on too much land. Explained Patti, “We wanted more elbow room, but not too much property.” Patti was interested in custom building a home, but Mac was hesitant. “We’d been through that process before,” he said, referring to two homes the couple had designed and built in the past. “I wasn’t ready for that level of involvement and intensity again.”

Despite Mac’s hesitation, the Douglases reached out to Bend company Norman Building & Design—the team that had built the Broken Top house that they liked so much. The match was instantly positive. The company’s long history in Central Oregon made them knowledgeable and reliable, and the team was easy to work with. “It was convenient and stress-free to work with Norman,” said Mac. “Everything was done in-house—they really hold your hand through the process.” Patti added, “The relationship was so much fun.”

Livingroom

Central Oregon Ties

Patti was born in Bend, and the couple and their family had been vacationing during summers at Black Butte since the 1970s. The Douglases were familiar with the region. Once their thoughts shifted to building a home, the task turned to finding land.

After a thorough search, Mac and Patti bought a lot in The Tree Farm, one of Bend’s newest neighborhoods. Located west of town off of Skyliner Road, on what was for many decades actually a tree farm owned by the Miller Lumber family, the development consists of 50 two-acre home sites on a ridge and in the forest. The Douglases secured a spacious lot with views of the Cascade Range, and began plans for their new home.

While contemporary design is trending now, the Douglases wanted a warmer style. “We knew we wanted many of the same elements as our previous home, but with a more rustic lodge-style.” said Patti. The completed nearly-4000-square-foot house is in the style of a modern ranch home, or rustic lodge, with plenty of wood and stone accents. Their Tree Farm residence is a grand home that is also extremely comfortable, welcoming and warm.

Kitchen

A Home By Design

As one approaches the home, a circular drive parallels a fence and gate which protect a spacious front courtyard. The home’s exterior is cement shingles accented with rusted metal, for a rustic appearance that blends nicely with the forested landscape. The exterior of the home is entirely fire-safe, per the Tree Farm’s strict requirements, as a Firewise community from the ground up.

The timber-framed front entry shelters a large alder door surrounded by two massive rock walls. Guests enter into the great room, facing huge windows framing a northwest view, taking in sights of a sloping hill, a Ponderosa forest, and Mount Bachelor, Mount Jefferson and Black Butte in the distance.

The great room, purposely, has no electronics or screens installed. “There are no distractions,” said Mac. “We can just read here, or watch the views.” The couple owns a large collection of Western art, from sculpture to paintings, which is subtly placed throughout the home, including a piece prominently displayed over the great room’s massive rock fireplace.

To the southwest of the great room, the master bedroom opens into a den, enlarging that space when desired. “We wanted the home to be designed smart, with no wasted space,”said Patti. “Each room works for us.” Patti’s spacious, coveted sewing room is on that end of the home as well.

On the other end of the home is a family and media room, with two guest rooms, one with a bunk as well as a queen bed. “Every room has a reason for being,” said Patti.

In the kitchen, a huge dish pantry contains everything cleanly, with easy access. “I have so much storage in this house,” said Patti. Polished concrete countertops cover a large center island in the open kitchen space.

The theme of wood—purposefully compatible with a tree farm—appears throughout the home. One hallway wall is rugged reclaimed barn wood. Even some of the tiles in the bathrooms are designed to look like wood, in different grain appearance. The woods contribute to a rich and warm texture. Patti is a quilter, and several quilts and other fabric panels are hung around the home, also adding texture.

An outdoor patio off of the back is tucked into the shape of the house, designed for shelter from the elements, with an overhang inset with heat lamps. A full-size outdoor fireplace sits near several seating options. Off the patio is a round fire pit, perfect for roasting marshmallows on a summer night. “The fire draws people in and brings conversation,” said Patti. “The patio brings us together.”

Kid's room

At Home in Comfort

Patti and Mac have three grown children as well as many grandchildren, and one desire for their home was that it would be welcoming for their family to visit. “We had fifteen people here at Christmas, and it worked out very well,” said Patti. The guest wing closes off entirely, giving both guests and homeowners privacy.

The Douglases moved into their new home in April 2018. “We just love our home,” said Patti. “It lives so well.” Mac added, “And we have good memories of the process. The Norman team did a great job of listening to us.”

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Weekend Roundup May 8-12

The best events around Central Oregon this weekend include a vintage airplane show, a craft beer party, athletic events and more.

Chainbreaker
Image courtesy of Bend Endurance Academy

Fly the Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Tour
May 9-12 | Bend Municipal Airport | $52-$77

Take the opportunity to fly in the first commercial airplane, the rare Ford Tri-Motor. The four-day event will also have an antique airplane and car show and aviation exhibits. It all takes place at the Bend Municipal Airport.

Wild Ride’s 5th Anniversary Party
May 11 | Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond | Free

Celebrate five years of Redmond craft brewery Wild Ride on Saturday. The all-day event will have live music, patio games and of course a new beer release. There is also a host of great food trucks on site. The event is free and family-friendly.

Sisters Better Half Marathon
May 11 | Village Green City Park, Sisters | $40-$70

Join the quarter-marathon or half-marathon as an individual, or break up the race with your “better half.” It takes place in Sisters and proceeds from the event benefit the Sisters High School Swim Team.

Cascade Chainbreaker
May 11 | Skyline Forest, Bend | Prices vary

All levels of mountain bikers are welcome at the Cascade Chainbreaker. Whether you’re a novice or a professional, you can join the race that takes place in Skyline Forest in Bend. There will be food and drinks for racers and spectators on site.

Riverfeast
May 11 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon | Starting at $100

With dinner, spirits and a live auction, the annual Riverfeast is a popular fundraising event for the Deschutes River Conservancy, a nonprofit that is dedicated to restoring and protecting the upper Deschutes River basin.

Live Music

Americana band Upstate will be playing at McMenamins on Thursday night. And Volcanic has shows all weekend, including Jason Enigk on Wednesday and Kuinka on Saturday. There will also be a free concert from Las Cafeteras in Sisters at The Belfry on Friday night.

79 Years of the Biggest Little Show in the World

Small-town commitment and a champion hell-bent on a comeback meet at the Sisters Rodeo on the eve of its eightieth year.

Steven Peebles
Redmond’s Steven Peebles hopes the Sisters Rodeo will be a springboard back to the upper echelon of pro rodeo. Photo Jeff Kennedy

Steven Peebles is in the bucking chute, on the bare back of a bronc. He runs his gloved right hand into a leather rigging on a cinch around the horse’s powerful chest.

It’s a crucial moment, technically and psychologically, Peebles says. “You know it’s gonna hurt, and in a sick, twisted way, you’ve gotta crave it, love it.” That’s the only way to summon the final shred of strength to hang on with that one hand for at least eight seconds—or walk out a loser. To score well, though, he’ll have to stay on longer.

He leans back and nods—that’s the signal. The gate swings open and the 1,400-pound animal does what it was bred to do: buck like hell.

Three rolls of athletic tape strain to keep Peebles’ wrist, elbow, every bone, muscle, tendon and joint from tearing, breaking or hyperextending. The world champion rider from Redmond who, at age 30 has broken his back three times, is about to look like a rag doll on a roiling, insane roller coaster — fringes flying, left hand flailing, cowboy hat flipping furiously into the dirt. He’ll hang on for dear life, with points awarded for technical style.

Peebles fell in love with this in seventh grade, after moving from Salinas, California to Redmond. His uncle, a rodeo veteran, like a second father to him, introduced him to a friend, Bobby Mote, of Culver, who was halfway to becoming a four-time world champion in the event.

Peebles and his family would go to the Sisters Rodeo every year. As soon as he turned 18, he was eligible to compete in the professional event, practically in his backyard, using it as springboard to a career that has spanned two decades and the continent. On the pro circuit, traveling to scores of rodeos across the country, his goal became winning a world championship, which he did in 2005. He’d qualified for the national finals seven times, until 2016, when he broke his back twice and had elbow and shoulder surgery.

Even for someone who has reached the pinnacle of the sport, the Sisters Rodeo, among the oldest and best attended in the Pacific Northwest, bears a distinct significance.

“It stands out from the rest,” says Peebles. “Riding is a little different when your family, friends, your hometown are in the crowd. You don’t want to mess up. If you’re in Kansas City or somewhere—every time you want to win—but if you don’t do good, you go somewhere else and don’t dwell on it. It puts a little twist on it.”

A Seventy-Nine Year Ride

For the rodeo to have endured for seventy-nine years, though, has demanded that many people think well beyond the excitement in the arena. Like a tenacious bronc rider, it has held on tight, maneuvering through hard times and evolving from an amateur event to a professional one with a permanent home because of locals who’ve loved it and worked hard for it.

Several of the rodeo’s eleven board members have been with it about a half-century. That includes Arena Director John Leavitt, who began competing in the rodeo at age 17 in tie-down calf roping, steer wrestling and doing pickup riding (scooping up competitors on horseback after bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding). He reminisced about those early days, when his sister barrel raced and the rodeo was right downtown, on North Pine Street, where Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply is today.

He ran his Western wear store, Leavitt’s, in downtown Sisters for four decades, outfitting real cowboys and cowgirls as well as those enamored with Western style. The rodeo queen’s outfit would come from the store, a tradition that continues since Leavitt sold it in 2015 and it became Dixie’s.

Leavitt takes pride in the work that the board and two hundred volunteers do to make the event run as smoothly as the state’s largest professional rodeos, the Pendleton Roundup and the St. Paul Rodeo. He credits Sisters Rodeo Board President Glenn Miller, who has volunteered for about four decades and oversees sponsorships that support awarding $10,000 to each winner in seven categories from bull riding to team bronc riding.

Sisters Rodeo Horse

Traditions And New Blood, Too

Board Secretary Bonnie Malone has put her University of Oregon journalism degree to work for the rodeo, leading media and communications for the event she’s served since moving here nearly forty years ago. Malone, a chiropractor, savors the stories she finds at the rodeo.

For example, there’s Peggy Clerf Tehan, the 2019 Grand Marshal of the Sisters Rodeo Parade. Tehan sang “The Star Spangled Banner” at every rodeo for twenty-nine years, almost always a capella on horseback. That first time, Tehan left her three-month-old daughter in the stands with Jean Wells, founder of the Stitchin’ Post sewing shop and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. As the young soprano sang, she could hear her infant howling. Four years later, Tehan sang, albeit not on horseback, a week before giving birth to the howler’s sibling.

Last year, Tehan retired from lending her voice to the event. Rodeo organizers asked her to chair a committee to bring on new singers for each performance. Audrey Tehan, the howling infant at her mother’s debut, sang in her mother’s place at the rodeo opener last year.

Sisters Rodeo

As essential to the rodeo as the national anthem is the rodeo clown. When Sisters hired neophyte performer J.J. Harrison thirteen years ago, it launched his second career. This clown holds a master’s degree and was teaching middle school in Walla Walla, Washington when he heard about the opportunity. Last year, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association nominated him for Clown of the Year.

Malone recalled one of her favorite rodeo moments, in 2010. Harrison jumped up on a barrel, taunting a bull, and as the massive, horned bovine started toward him, the clown dropped inside the barrel. “That bull took on an attitude and started whacking him down the field, rolling it like a soccer ball, right through the center exit gate,” she said. The crowd went wild. “Everyone was like, ‘Goal!’ It was hysterical. You just couldn’t plan this thing.”

Harrison appears at Sisters Elementary School on the Friday of every rodeo. “As a former middle school teacher, he just takes over, and his whole message is about not bullying, standing up for people who are bullied, and befriending those who look like they’re alone,” said Malone. “The kids absolutely love him.”

Board member Cathy Williams, 86, volunteered at the rodeo since the early 1980s, and just retired as board member and ticket office manager. After teaching in Portland schools for thirty-two years, she moved to a log cabin, a family vacation home, just north of Sisters.

From the ticket booth, she educated spectators coming to the rodeo for the first time. She let them know about the event’s emphasis on animal care.

The animals, Malone points out, are athletes, bred and groomed for their careers in rodeo. They’re valuable—six-figures for the best performers—so it makes sense that their owners would take good care of them, she said.

Bull Dog Shootout

Heading Home and Chasing Glory

Like a successful rodeo, a rider’s career is sustained through passion and almost slavish devotion to excellence. It’s a journey that has taken Peebles to the sport’s highest highs and its back-breaking lows. This year, the Sister’s Rodeo and dozens like it will be key to Peebles’ chance of another shot at that vaunted high. His goal is to once again qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, rodeo’s premier event, in December. If he makes it, it will add an exclamation point to a dramatic comeback.

Last year, he’d finished a rodeo in Austin and was driving home to Redmond after a string of less than satisfying results. Near Llano, he stopped at a store and ran into his old friend Bobby Mote. Peebles didn’t know Mote had moved to that part of Texas. He went home with his mentor and friend, who took him back to the basics, refining the essentials of where they’d started nearly two decades ago.

“It took sitting down with Bobby,” says Peebles. “He grounded me. I had some time off in spring to slowly heal, and in summer, I started climbing back up. I was barely short of making finals, but it was a game-changer. I’ve been winning.”

Whether he can ride that momentum to Vegas hinges on how he does at the sixty-five rodeos he’ll have driven to across the country, between February and September this year. The Sisters Rodeo, June 5 to 9, is one of them, as it has been nearly every year for the past decade.

It’s a mental and physical grind. On the road, Peebles will get to a rodeo, ride, and sometimes will drive all night to the next. After the Sisters Rodeo, though, he’ll change out of his gear, get to see the second half of the saddle bronc riding, and meet his friends and family in the beer garden. But he won’t linger.

With two rodeo buddies, they’ll share the driving, to a new state practically every day. “There’s Reno, then July 4th weekend. It’s called cowboy Christmas. We’ll go to twelve rodeos in five days. Arizona, St. Paul and Molalla (Oregon) … Arkansas, Colorado, Alberta…” Enough high scores would mean a return to the finals.

Like the Sisters Rodeo, Peebles has stood up to challenges, which, for other folks, would’ve done them in long ago. Now they both stand to reap the rewards of hanging on, no matter how rough the ride.

In May 2019, Steven Peebles broke his leg and will not be competing in the Sisters Rodeo.

Bend Mother-Daughter Duo Authors Teen Mystery

A Bend mother-daughter duo author a teen mystery about family secrets, brave girls and spectacularly bad weather.

Kim Cooper Findling and Libby Findling
Kim Cooper Findling and daughter Libby Findling

Oregon Media’s own Kim Cooper Findling has written three nonfiction books, including Bend, Oregon Daycations: Day Trips for Curious Families. In addition to serving as the editor of our newly launched Bend Home + Design magazine, Kim recently completed her first fiction effort—a teen mystery set on the Oregon Coast, co-written with her 14-year-old daughter Libby, titled The Sixth Storm. Bend Magazine sat down with the two to discuss collaborative writing, dark humor and the long road to publication.

What was the inspiration to write a book together?

Libby: On a stormy night four years ago, I said to my mom, “What if weather patterns represented people changing?”
Kim: I scribbled what she’d said on a piece of paper. I knew at that moment we had to write a book together.

What was the writing process like for you?

Kim: We began weekly brainstorming sessions at a sandwich shop in Bend while Libby’s little sister had dance class next door.
Libby: We did all the concepting and character development together, stealing names from family members and out of books on the sub shop book shelf. I loved creating people straight from scratch.
Kim: Then I began writing chapters and bringing them to Libby…
Libby: …and I would fix them!

What were the biggest challenges you faced?

Libby: Time. I had school, mom had work. We fit it in where we could, around activities and on the weekends.
Kim: Writing fiction was a blast but from the start, but really whipping a whole novel into shape was much harder than I expected. I had no idea what I was getting into. A third of our first draft ended up on the cutting room floor.

Tell us about your book’s setting.

Kim: The story takes place in a small rural town on the Oregon Coast, similar to where I grew up.
Libby: People who know Oregon will recognize a lot of familiar places, from the beach to Mount Hood.

What was it like to kill characters off on the page?

Kim: Delicate. I needed to kill five or six people without upsetting a young reader.
Libby: I said, ‘Mom, just kill ‘em’. I think we should have done more to upset the reader!

What impact did writing a book together have on your relationship?

Libby: We have the same type of mind and love dark humor, so it was easy to work together.
Kim: We are a lot alike and made a natural team. Writing is typically a solo sport, and it was wonderful to not be in it alone for the first time.

This project took four years. How did your perspectives change over that time period?

Kim: I started writing a book with a ten-year-old and finished writing it with a 14-year-old. That’s a period of life full of a lot of change. The story elements that mattered the most to Libby shifted over time.
Libby: Like romance.
Kim: There is debate about our protagonist. I think she has an innocent crush on the weather man.
Libby: She definitely does not!

Who is your favorite character?

Libby: I love Ashley (the protagonist’s best friend) because she’s so quirky and shows up when you least expect her to.
Kim: Andrew (the protagonist’s brother) is the big brother I always wanted.

What’s one thing that each of you learned about the other through the book writing process that you might not otherwise have known?

Kim: I knew Libby had a rich imagination and loved storytelling, but I didn’t realize the depth of plotting and character that she could bring to a project.
Libby: When my mom starts writing something she will not stop until she’s happy with it.

What are readers most enjoying about The Sixth Storm?

Libby: Fast pace, fun mystery, a brave female lead, and my friends say they can really relate to the characters.
Kim: The second half is a page turner, and there is a delicious plot twist at the end.

Will there be another book from you two?

Kim: This has been so much fun, but I am tempted to turn the reins of fiction over to Libby for the long haul.
Libby: I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!

The-Sixth-Storm_Cover

 

3 Reasons to Skip Tent Camping This Summer

The best glamping destinations in Central Oregon.

Glamping

The tent leaks, the sleeping bags are MIA and the campstove is temperamental. If you can check any or all of these boxes, it may be time to reconsider your approach to camping this summer (yes, camping is still mandatory—this is Oregon). Thankfully, you have options that allow you to forego the traditional ritual of gathering and inventorying gear, during which you will no doubt omit some essential item, thereby sending the entire ill-conceived excursion into a tailspin. Consider instead booking a turnkey operation that removes the stress from planning and turns the prospect of disappointment into delight. Here are a few options from rustic to resplendent.

Panacea at the Canyon

This forty-acre luxury tent resort and spa Panacea at the Canyon offers a solar-powered oasis prompting guests to truly unplug and reconnect with nature to nurture their mind, body and spirit. Yoga and labyrinth meditation are among the offerings here, as is a rimrock clifftop soaking pool.

Elk Lake Resort

The popular Elk Lake Resort offers cabin rentals and rustic camping, but added glamping into the mix recently with the addition of more than a half-dozen luxury tents that include two futons with full bedding, a dining room table and access to the resort’s showers.

Lake Billy Chinook Cabins

The Cove Palisades State Park at Lake Billy Chinook has more than 200 campsites, many with RV hook-ups. But if you want to travel light, book one of the three deluxe, lakeside cabins. The cozy log homes sleep up to eight people and offer easy access to the popular boating and fishing destination, with separation from the campground to offer some privacy. Boat rentals are available through the nearby marina.

Rupie Is A New Kind of Game Development Platform

Austin Anderson, a former Bay Area software engineer, finds a home in Bend for Rupie, his cutting-edge game development platform.

Austin Anderson

Austin Anderson left a downtown San Francisco job at LinkedIn and came to Bend with little more than an idea of what was next. Friends talked him out of starting a boutique video game development studio here. But the idea of creating a niche in the game development space stuck. Just one year later, Anderson’s new company, Rupie, is rolling out a game development and team management platform that could change the way that games are built. The company has seen strong seed funding and is poised for rapid growth. Earlier this year, BendTECH tapped Anderson and Rupie as the first company to occupy its Startup Founders Office incubator space, a move aimed at helping the company connect with more local talent and dollars. We talked with Anderson about the company’s plans.

What problem is Rupie addressing for game builders and studios?

It’s really a challenge for game talent to find consistent work, and one of the reasons why is because about 80 percent of game studios leverage outsourced talent. It’s huge. And there are some, I’d say, less than healthy practices in terms of releasing talent after contracts expire. A lot of times [agreements] are very informal; there is not a lot of tooling built around how these transactions operate. It’s not like enterprise software where the processes have been established and really baked in for decades. In the games industry, it’s still very much the Wild West. That idea of starting a gaming studio didn’t come to fruition.

How did that idea evolve into Rupie?

I figured out after a lot of investigation that finding talent in the games industry is really hard. There are some unique reasons for that, but it’s a big pain point. I thought, well there is this interesting Venn diagram-like conversion of my LinkedIn experience combined with my gaming experience. I wondered what it would be like to create a managed marketplace for game developers to help them connect with opportunity consistently and also to help studios find talent. It seems what you are doing at Rupie could be applied to many industries.

What is it about the gaming industry that speaks to you?

I really just love what games represent. To me it is this openended creation process. You’re not confined to a specific medium or physical reality when you’re creating. To me it’s about the convergence of what games can do. We see games being able to leverage virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic purposes and all sorts of things. Right now, the gaming industry is bigger than the film and music industries combined. The futurist in me says that augmented reality (AR) and VR are going to enable more opportunity and expansion.

Can Central Oregon become part of that story?

My longtail vision [that] I’m very excited about is that I think Bend could easily become a hub for game developers and game events. There are some pretty large spaces here, it’s a little cheaper, there is good airport access and there are also quite a few companies here [already]. So, we’re excited about bringing the events that we are already doing and pulling them into Bend. It’s one of my personal goals with Rupie.

A Haven For Growing Remote Worker Economy

The Haven is a new co-working space that will allow for 100 members and space for collaborative and independent work.

Carrie Douglass and Chelsea Callicott
Carrie Douglass and Chelsea Callicott. Photo by Jill Rosell

In 2011, Bend native Carrie Douglass worked from home and felt stir-crazy. As the founder and CEO of the national nonprofit School Board Partners, a co-owner of Cascade Relays, a Bend-La Pine School Board member and a wife and mother, Douglass, 38, wanted to mix with the world while still clocking some serious productivity.

Douglass checked out Bend’s co-working spaces, of which there are now about half a dozen and largely cater to tech startups, but they didn’t meet this sweet spot of cozy inspiration and functional utility, Douglass said. So, she took it upon herself to start her own co-working space, The Haven, with the help of an all-women team and a small local “tribe” of ten investors. The Haven blends the best attributes of the coffee shop, living room and conference hall into an intuitive floor plan.

Douglass said that most co-working spaces start with a certain number of square feet and ask themselves how many desks or offices can fit into it. “We started with questions like: Where are you most creative? What amenities would help you be at your best? What spaces inspire you?” said Douglass.

Haven Kitchen Rendering

The Haven’s executive director Chelsea Callicott also knows the value of a tailored space. Her husband Preston Callicott is the CEO of Five Talent software, which is BendTech’s anchor tenant. Chelsea Callicott tried to work at the space but the silent focus of the tech incubator didn’t help her productivity.

“I just couldn’t do it. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,” Callicott said. “That’s a different kind of intensity than the way I work. I need a little bit of conversation.”

According to a recent US Census estimate, the Bend-Redmond metropolitan area leads the country with 12.1 percent of workers who do so remotely. The national average hovers around 3 percent, according to a report by Flexjobs. That local number will only grow, said Adam Krynicki, the executive director of OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab, which opened in spring 2018 and incubates as many as fifteen one-to-two-person startups at a time. Bend’s easy access to the outdoors and the burgeoning tech scene has become increasingly attractive to entrepreneurs and aspiring remote workers, he said.

Opening in June, The Haven will occupy 11,000 square feet across two floors of the Deschutes Ridge Office (1001 SW Disk Dr.) in southwest Bend. While The Haven is dedicated to the needs of professional women, about 25 percent of the approximately 100 members who have already signed up are men, organizers said. Membership will be capped at 200.

“Women are still such a small percentage of entrepreneurs, CEOs and politicians that we want to focus specifically on helping women succeed in those leadership roles,” Douglass said. “But lots of men are also finding that they are excited about our programming, amenities and design.”

Drenched by sunlight that pours in from eight 180-degree views of the Deschutes River, The Haven is anchored by a striking communal work table salvaged from the trunk of a 380-year-old ponderosa pine that grew in what is now Drake Park until it toppled from natural causes. Conferences and brainstorming sessions will be aided by complimentary coffee, kombucha, craft beer and wine. Beneath a ceiling of cheery no-knot pine panels, mornings may begin with a sketch pad in the cushy yet cell phone- and conversation-free living room area called The Refuge. Afternoons might happen in The Pods, which features six semi-private booths for conversation with drawable curtains for heightened privacy. There are also five soundproof phone booths. Other members may wrap up their workday at one of fourteen dedicated desks or one of seven private meeting rooms which can hold four to fourteen people.

The Haven’s diverse spaces are owed to the vision of creative director and interior designer Susan Manrao, who has previously worked with luxe hotels such as W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis and Waldorf Astoria. The Haven team also conducted focus groups to hone in on what remote workers wanted.

Flex Space Work Spaces
A variety of work spaces allow members to transition throughout their workday depending on their needs.

“The Haven’s space is the antithesis of the typical office environment,” Manrao said.

Progressive amenities abound. Mothers will have access to a nursing/pumping space. Those who are invigorated by mid-day runs and hikes can freshen up afterward in the locker room area replete with four showers and beauty stations. There will also be programs dedicated to public speaking and personal marketing.

“We learned what people needed from a co-working space to function and also what they needed to thrive, to bring them to their best every day,” Manrao said.

Douglass hopes The Haven will foster a work-life balance and help mitigate against an all-or-nothing attitude toward one’s career.

“I feel like we’re in this grand experiment at the forefront of the country,” Douglass said of Central Oregon being the nation’s leader for remote working. “So how do we really maintain the special, close-knit relationship-based community that I think makes Bend really special? We’re trying to be that place-based community for this huge section of our population that no longer has that.”

A Family Road Trip Through The Painted Hills

A four-day itinerary to experience Central Oregon and the Painted Hills as a family.

RVs and campers are a great way to experience Central Oregon and beyond. They are are also extremely costly to maintain. Enjoy the benefits without the hassles by renting an RV and taking your show on the road. In Bend, Happy Camper RV Rentals has a fleet of late model campers and RVs available for about the same cost as a cabin rental at many of the local resorts.

Day 1

Head to historic Prineville and hang a right, following the Wild and Scenic Crooked River deep into the canyon. Pick a riverside spot as your temporary home. Wet a line on the blue-ribbon trout fishery or just kick back with a good book.

Crook-County-Chamber
Crook County Chamber in Prineville

Day 2

Return to Prineville and from there it’s on to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Head east through Mitchell and onto the Sheep Rock Unit where you’ll find the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center. Visitors learn about the fossil beds that date back millions of years, some of the oldest records of animal life in North America.

Day 3

Get your hands dirty by heading to the Clarno Unit, near the small town of Fossil on the John Day River. Head into town and explore the open dig site behind Wheeler High School, where the public is welcome to comb for fossils in a prehistoric lakebed that dates back 33 million years.

Day 4

Head back to Bend, but stop first at Smith Rock State Park, where the Crooked River winds around the base of one of America’s premier rock-climbing destinations. Watch as climbers dangle impossibly from the volcanic tuff spires. Finish your day with a beer and a snack at Redmond’s Wild Ride brewery.

Smith-Rock
Smith Rock State Park
What to Know When You Float the Deschutes River

Whether you live in Bend or are just visiting for the weekend, consider this your cheat sheet for floating the Deschutes River.

Floating down the Deschutes River

The popularity of floating the river has surpassed what anyone envisioned when Bend’s Park and Recreation District formally opened the river for business. Unfortunately, the amount of trash, from lost clothing to littered cans, has also ballooned. Rather than curtail floating, the park district and its partners, including the Old Mill District and Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, are asking locals and visitors to consider their impact when they set sail from Farewell Bend Park. Points of emphasis include eliminating trash and litter on the river and reducing stress on native and restored riparian areas, by helping users identify and use established access and exit points on the river.

Do

  • Bring your own tube and inflation device OR rent onsite at Riverbend Park, or at Tumalo Creek and Kayak ($20 for 2 hours).
  • Bring cash for a river shuttle ($3) or run your own shuttle using a bike or Zagster bike sharing service.
  • Put life jackets on children.
  • Pick up trash. (Is seeing it and leaving it any better than littering?)

Don’t

  • Bring food or other packaged items that produce garbage.
  • Bring single use water bottles. (You’re in the birthplace of the HydroFlask!)
  • Consume drugs and alcohol. (They are both illegal and dangerous on the river.)
  • Float through the safe passageway channel unless you’re willing to risk a bump or scratch. (It’s a river, not an amusement park.)
Three Stellar Places For Stargazing in Central Oregon

Check out these places with limited light pollution for some of the best stargazing in Central Oregon.

The beauty of living in the high elevation and relatively low population region of Central Oregon is that our night skies are some of the best places in the U.S. to see stars. You don’t have to travel far from home to get a taste of what the galaxy has to offer. Early summer is a great time to stay out late and immerse yourself in the natural world. Whether you view by telescope, binoculars, or nothing but your own set of eyes, here are three locations we recommend to get a view of our galaxy.

Cascades Lakes

Within just a few dozen miles of Bend, you can find yourself at any one of your favorite Cascade Lakes trailheads. Really anywhere will do, but we recommend hitting Todd Lake. Open meadows nestled in majestic pines with a serene setting of chorus frogs serenading your visit makes this the perfect location to go looking for constellations and the occasional shooting star. Remember: these are breeding grounds for many local amphibians, so please respect their space and avoid trampling the shoreline.

Old McKenzie Highway

You’ve yet to really experience the Milky Way if you haven’t observed it from the heart of one of North America’s largest lava fields. As you surround yourself with jagged rocks that feel almost extra-terrestrial, you get the feeling that you are watching the stars from the surface of another planet. Head west from Sisters on Highway 242 towards the Dee Wright Observatory (telescopes not included) and accompanying lava flows. Find yourself a place with a good view of the southern sky. Note: The Old McKenzie Highway, aka Highway 242, is closed during winter and spring and typically opens in mid-June to motor vehicle traffic.

The Badlands

For arguably the darkest skies and best star viewing in the western United States, head east on Highway 20 towards the Badlands Wilderness, an ancient juniper forest perched on the edge of a shield volcano. With few visual obstructions, this expansive and open natural wonder gives you the sense of being surrounded by the cosmos. While looking south will no doubt give the best view of the Milky Way, turn your eyes in any direction and find the majority of constellations viewable in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as planets like Jupiter and Saturn.

Central Oregon Stars
Photos by Nate Wyeth
A Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Bend

Park the car and take a walking tour of downtown Bend to find historical tidbits, architectural legacies and even a ghost.

NP Smith Hardware Building (now Lone Crow Bungalow)
937 NW Wall St.

Built in 1909, this is the only remaining original wood frame building from downtown. The Smith family moved into the apartment upstairs, and Marjorie, their daughter, lived there until her 90s. During the devastating fires of the early 1900s, their building survived because Cora Smith hung wet sheets out the windows. All the other wood frame buildings either burned down or were replaced by brick buildings. The first gas tank in Bend was here, and today there is a little square piece of cement in the sidewalk out front that is both unmarked and out of place—that is where the first gas tank was.

O’Kane Building
115 NW Oregon Ave.

The original Bend Hotel on the site was one of many that burned to the ground, so Hugh O’Kane went for all brand-new fire-proof construction in building its replacement in 1917. The other special piece is that he built the Bend Emblem Club logo into the transom windows. The building was home to the original offices for the brand-new county government when it opened, as well as many other important businesses and offices over the years, including the Grand Theater and Cashman’s clothing store.

Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher House
869 NW Wall St.

Built in 1904, this is the oldest standing structure within the city limits. Arthur Goodwillie came to Bend in his early 20s to work for Alexander Drake and at 23 was elected the first mayor of Bend, right after the construction of his home. A makeshift band marched to his house celebrating his election. The town was only about 530 people then, and his was a substantial home with leaded glass windows. The other reason to love the house is that it was almost torn down in the 1990s and the community rallied around it to save it from being torn down to put up a parking lot—literally like the Joni Mitchell song.

Drake Park
The Frank T. Johns Memorial Marker

This spot is a testament to humanity. Frank was stumping for his presidential candidacy with a speech at Drake Park in 1928. During the speech, he heard a young boy cry for help in the river. He took off his jacket and jumped in, a healthy and strong man in his thirties. This story also shows what we have done to the river—back then it was fast, dangerous and cold. Johns was unable to save the boy and succumbed to the cold water himself and they both drowned. The citizens of Bend pooled their money to get his body back to Portland, as well as to give a small fund to his widow and their two daughters. A couple of years later, citizens of Bend wrote and nominated him for the Carnegie medal for his heroism, which came with a lifetime stipend for his wife. They were successful and he was awarded the medal posthumously.

The Reid School
The Reid School

The Reid School
129 NW Idaho Ave.

Named for Ruth Reid who came to teach in Bend in 1904, the building was the first modern school built in Bend. Opened in 1914, it had indoor plumbing, heating and electricity. Many of the children that first attended the school did not have indoor plumbing yet. Ruth founded the first high school classes and became first principal of all schools. She had to quit after marrying a local entrepreneur and politician H.J. Overturf, for whom Overturf Butte is named. Reid took her husband’s name, but when Reid School was built, they named it for her by her maiden name. To this day, the building (now home to the Deschutes Historical Museum) is reportedly haunted by the ghost of George Brosterhous, who died of a fall during the building’s construction

The Secret to Boxwood Kitchen is What’s Not on the Menu

The fresh prepared food service Boxwood Kitchen opened a brick-and-mortar in Bend’s Old Mill District.

Chef Eric Rud
Chef Eric Rud

When Chef Eric Rud describes Boxwood Kitchen, which he opened in the Old Mill District at the start of the year, it’s devoid of trendy terms.

“My vision is comfort food and all the little details, the efforts behind the scenes that no one would know about,” he said. “I want a plate to be recognizable and delicious, beautiful without being pretentious, and I want to give value.”

That’s just part of the story, though. The phrase “efforts behind the scenes” is essential. For starters, Rud and his staff of ten make all the pasta, from pappardelle and gnocchi to spaetzle. House-made dinner rolls emerge warm from the oven nightly, served with lava salt and herb butter.

A savory dimension to the vegetarian gnocchi comes from umami powder, which the kitchen makes by dehydrating mushrooms, a process that requires two days and valuable kitchen space. Smoked shallots further boost the dish. All meats, including a hanger steak, are cooked sous vide, vacuum sealed in a pouch immersed in precisely heated water to achieve optimum flavor and texture. The pork chop is brined and marinated first.

“In our dry storage, in winter we have canned tomatoes, oil, vinegar and salt—no other cans,” said Rud. “We make all of our red curry, sauces and vinaigrettes from scratch. Personally, for me, there’s no other way to do it. It’s tricky, it causes a little stress, but we all take pride in it.”

Boxwood Kitchen Interior

Boxwood stands on the shoulders of the personal and career experiences of Rud, 42. He was born in San Francisco, but doesn’t have many formative food memories before age 6, when his family moved to Germany on a military assignment.

“While we lived on a military base, my parents insisted we would get out every weekend,” said Rud. He and his sister discovered the food cultures throughout Germany and in Italy and France. Being a picky eater wasn’t an option. “It pushed me in the right direction,” he said.

He started working in restaurants in Germany when he was 18, and about five years later, returned to the United States to attend Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis. He returned to San Francisco and co-owned Aliment, an inventive, American eatery. Eventually, he and his girlfriend, Riane Welch, wanted to move on from the area, with its high cost of living. They saved for a year, and he sold his share in the restaurant.

They moved to Welch’s parents’ vacation home in Sunriver and launched Boxwood Kitchen, offering thoughtfully prepared salads, sandwiches and noodle bowl dishes, for online order, delivery and in local boutique grocers. The concept wasn’t taking off, but one of their delivery customers, the Old Mill District management office, approached them about opening in the fifty-two-seat space, behind Jimmy Johns.

While Boxwood still sells vegetarian and vegan salads at Market of Choice and Newport Market, the focus is on their popular eatery. This summer, they plan to add planters (of Oregon boxwood, an evergreen shrub) outside to create a patio.

Welch works full-time in marketing for Les Schwab Tire Centers, and as a restaurant partner, lends those talents to Boxwood, too. “I am, and will always be Eric’s biggest fan,” she said. “He takes so much care in crafting dishes and combining flavors and elements. He is always pushing himself to find that one thing that will really take our menu items over the top.”

Boxwood Kitchen Logo

This article was originally written in May 2019. Read our 2023 restaurant review of Boxwood Kitchen here, or continue on to more about our local food and restaurant scene.

Bluestone Farms Practices Full-Circle Sustainability

In the heart of Powell Butte, an organic farm is a model of efficiency. Every element of the farm is utilized, including the minutes in the day.

Onda and Michael Hueners
Onda and Michael Hueners

Michael and Onda Hueners must have more hours in the day than the average person. The Hueners run Bluestone Natural Farms, a thirty-five-acre organic farm in the heart of Powell Butte, producing beef, pork, eggs, vegetables, goat milk products, textiles and more for their farm stand as well as local farmers markets. They host educational farm tours on their property and are leaders of a handful of local agriculture organizations. And they do it all while holding full-time jobs—Michael owns Bluestone Gardens and Landscapes and Onda is an RN at St. Charles in Bend.

“It started out as a hobby, with the idea that we would work it into our retirement,” said Onda. “We started with a couple cows, and it’s just gone crazy from there.” Today they have about twenty head of cattle, fortyish pigs, about the same number of goats and another couple dozen chickens. A greenhouse and garden beds around the property produce a variety of vegetables.

Michael and Onda bought the property in 2004. Onda grew up in Wallowa County on a small farm and Michael grew up in Minnesota and moved to California, where they met in 1999. They have seven children between them from previous marriages and eighteen grandchildren who occasionally lend a hand, but most of the time it’s just the two of them.

Bluestone Natural Farm pigs

Their main goal is to have the farm be as self-sufficient as possible, and they work with local businesses to collect food waste to feed the animals or create their compost. They collect spent grains from Kobold Brewing in Redmond to feed the cows and pigs and pre-consumer food waste from Worthy Brewing and Dairy Queen. (One look at the bucket of melted soft-serve next to the pig pen will put you off Blizzards forever. “The pigs just go crazy for it,” said Onda.) Facebook, and soon Apple, give them their pre-consumer food waste as well, which is part of a new initiative for the companies.

Unlike the narrow vertical approach of Big Ag, every component in the Bluestone operation has a dual purpose. Waste from the animals, along with hay grown on the farm and their own food waste, makes the compost that nurtures the vegetables.

While it may lack the economies of scale that are the hallmark of modern farming, there is an elegant efficiency here unrivaled in commodity driven farming. “Why have the farm that raises pigs, if you don’t have this, that and the other,” said Michael, referring to all the other components of the farm that aid in the process of raising pigs, like hay from the fields and whey from making goat’s milk. Otherwise, “It’s not a complete circle,” he said.

Education is another priority for the Hueners. They work with local schools to bring kids out to the farm to learn where food comes from. The adults are just as intrigued as the kids, they said. “It’s important to us because people have lost track of where their food comes from, or the work that it takes to produce that food,” said Onda.

A less diversified farm might be more profitable for them, but that isn’t the point. They do it all to be stewards of the environment, an example for a new generation of small farms and to be able to say that an average meal for them was produced entirely on their thirty-five acres.

“We haven’t made our own lasagna noodles yet, but everything else, even the tomato sauce, is from here,” said Michael.

Bluestone Natural Farms Vegetables Bluestone Natural Farms Goat

A DIY Home Renovation in Maupin

A Bend couple decides to retreat to the little town on the Deschutes River and renovate a century-old home.

Kyle Suenaga
Kyle Suenaga in her Maupin home.

The first thing Kyle Suenaga noticed when she walked in the house was that it smelled 100 years old. Not that it was a bad thing. Just that it smelled like this house, on the corner of a Maupin neighborhood that overlooks the Deschutes River, had 100 years of life in its floors and walls, which it did, and just needed some TLC.

Kyle discovered Maupin a decade ago when she took her two sons on a rafting trip for the weekend. After that, they started visiting year-round to retreat from the Bend area. “We’d just come up here to unplug. No cell phone reception, no TV. It was awesome,” said Kyle.

That’s changed in the past decade. Today, Maupin not only has cell phone reception but also high-speed internet, which makes living there full-time a much easier transition for people like Kyle and her husband, Stan, who spent the majority of their lives in cities. By way of contrast there are about 430 full-time residents in Maupin, though the population booms to a couple thousand in the summer, with seasonal residents and tourists drawn to the world-class rafting and fishing.

Suenaga Kitchen
The kitchen was the first room to get a full makeover in the century-old home.

Last year, the Suenagas were living in Bend but wanted a change of pace; Maupin fit the bill. When the century-old grey house on the corner came up for sale, they took the leap and decided to take on the fixer upper themselves.

“We moved in on a Friday and Saturday and started ripping up carpets on Sunday,” said Kyle. The asbestos abatement and roofer came on Monday. Kyle kept her job as an English teacher at Mountain View High School until the end of the school year, and Stan retired from his work for the government. By the summer, every day was devoted to renovating the house.

“Every single day was a project—that usually took three days longer than I thought,” said Kyle. “They make it look so easy on DIY shows.” (The modern farmhouse style popularized by HGTV’s Joanna Gaines is prominent throughout the remodel, replete with white shiplap on the walls.) “We tried to do it systematically, and then it ended up that everything was torn apart. And we’re still married,” said Kyle with a laugh.

While they were sledgehammering the lath and plaster walls and replacing the white shag carpet with hardwood floors and tile, they slept on cots on the screened-in front porch and cooked on the back patio throughout the summer. They didn’t have electricity for months; extension cords ran the coffeepot and fans—the latter of which is a necessity during Maupin summers that consistently hit three digits.

Suenaga Bathroom
A classic claw-foot tub fits the neo-farmhouse theme.

A Unique Challenge

They tackled the kitchen first. The couple took down two walls, which opened up the front of the house. Butcher-block counters and white cabinets replaced the dated laminate and plywood and provide a modern farmhouse look. The trendy open shelving was also practical for Kyle, who said that she’s too short to reach upper cabinets. The backsplash is a white subway tile with black grout, which Kyle learned probably should have been done after the house’s siding was replaced. (The pounding damaged the fresh grout, which had to be redone.)

Each home renovation comes with a unique set of challenges, particularly when it’s being done in a rural area.

Kyle described the process of getting subcontractors to Maupin as “hell.” It took months to get a plumber and an electrician to the house, and the couple decided to forgo gutters when they still couldn’t find someone to install them. Most of the wait is because of booming construction in The Gorge and Central Oregon has delayed subcontractors. So they learned to do a lot themselves and relied on the help of some family and friendly neighbors. One night while eating at The Riverside restaurant in Maupin, they were talking about needing to patch some cement in their walkway. A construction worker who was in town to work on Maupin’s new civic center offered to lend supplies and a hand.

Kyle and Stan Suenaga
Kyle and Stan on the porch where they temporarily resided during the peak of the remodel process.

Make it Your Own

Charming quirks appear around every corner. In the living room, Kyle found a patch of brick on a wall and decided to expose it. Turns out, it was just leftover from an old fireplace. But that corner of brick remains, and she whitewashed it as an accent.

“Our mantra is, ‘It’s a 100-year-old house.’ We’re going for rustic,” said Kyle. “Not perfect,” added Stan. “Doing the work yourself, we just stumbled through it. You spend a lot of time on it, you call it good.”

There are two bathrooms on the main floor, one that had been remodeled by the previous owners, and the other was without a toilet. They kept it as a bathroom anyway, adding a clawfoot tub, standalone shower and embracing the idiosyncrasy of a bathroom without a toilet.

A sliding barn door now opens to the stairwell. Upstairs, a landing area has a powder room tucked in an alcove. That was a remnant of the house’s previous life as Maupin City Hall. Kyle learned that at some point, the original city hall burned to the ground, and the city officials turned this house into city headquarters. The three bedrooms upstairs had been used for offices.

They’re still waiting for new trim for the windows and need to install doors upstairs. They haven’t done much to the exterior yet, which will be tackled next. They’re eager to get started, but then again this is Maupin. And they didn’t come here to rush.

One Man’s Trash is Damien Teitelbaum’s Canvas

An ethic of sustainable manufacturing drives Damien Teitelbaum’s durable designs.

Damien Teitelbaum Coffee Table
Steel-legged coffee table topped with juniper.

As the adage goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” For local metal artist Damien Teitelbaum, it only takes a trip to the local scrap yard to find his latest inspiration.

Teitelbaum is the mind and hands behind Bent Metal Works, a one-man studio that uses metal as the basis for functional yet sustainable pieces that range from robots (R2-D2 makes a great a wedding gift!) to wine racks. Teitelbaum often merges wood and glass for finished pieces that have a rugged industrial elegance.

If you venture around downtown long enough, you’ll discover multiple examples of his projects consisting of upcycled bike racks that Teitelbaum fused out of old car parts. Walk into a local furniture store and you’re just as likely to see a steel-legged coffee table topped with an ancient juniper slab.

Damien Teitelbaum
Damien Teitelbaum

“I enjoy welding and how it’s somewhat forgiving,” Teitelbaum said. “It’s gratifying to take metal and build things that are both functional and fashionable.”

Bent Metal Works found its niche in the process of “upcycling” metals into functional everyday items. Rather than purchase new materials to turn into amazing artwork, Teitelbaum follows the four “R’s” of sustainability: reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. For Bent Metal Works that means having the least amount of impact on the planet while still creating something exceptional.

Bent Metal Works does most of its manufacturing at the local DIY Cave, a co-workshop studio on Bend’s eastside in the old Pakit Liquidators space off 9th Street. Here, professional and amateur crafts people, mechanics, designers and artists come together under one roof to turn ideas into reality in an atmosphere that fosters collaboration.

Teitelbaum frequently bounces back and forth from the metalwork to woodworking spaces while sharing concepts and strategies with other artisans. He said that DIY Cave’s access to such a wide variety of resources is essential when working across multiple mediums.

“Everyone at the DIY Cave is reading the same book,” Teitelbaum said. “But everyone here is just reading a different chapter.”

In the end, it’s all about community, said Teitelbaum. Whether it be at the DIY Cave or at the homes of his clients and friends, Bent Metal Works is all about creating something that lasts and doing it together.

“I’ve found that the people of Bend can really appreciate finding someone local to design their tables or furniture,” he said. “It makes me happy when, months down the road, people send me photos of the habitats where my furniture ends up.”

A Modern Home Built Around Biophilia

Take a tour inside a mid-century modern masterpiece in the high desert that is built around indoor-outdoor living.

Moon Residence Fireplace

If you’ve stayed in an open-air home in the tropics with birds and breezes flowing through, then you’ll have a sense of what Maya Moon and her husband Brian have accomplished in the high desert outside Bend. The mid-century modern home with Frank Lloyd Wright influences sits on twenty-nine acres of junipers, scrub brush and rock and invokes indoor-outdoor living.

“The homeowners will be able to open sliding-glass walls and large windows in their great room and be outside at the same time,” said Al Tozer, an architectural designer with Tozer Design. The home is built around the concept of “biophilia,” the human tendency to seek connection with nature and other living things, he explained.

Tozer and his design colleague, Cecile Cuddihy, spent many hours at the site evaluating elevations that would capture views of the Cascades, from Mount Hood to Mount Bachelor, and create multi-levels embedded into the natural landscape. “Walking through the home is like walking where the landscape originally rose and fell,” Tozer said.

moon residence kitchen
The Dixon copper ball lights provide a warm contrast to the kitchen’s black and white quartzite island and wall backsplash.

To maximize the mountain views and have the connectivity with the outside through sliding doors and large windows, the home has more glass than solid walls, meeting one of Maya’s dreams to live in a glass house. The desertscape and the absence of nearby neighbors matched Brian’s desire for privacy.

With the high desert’s changing seasons and temperatures, capturing sunlight in the winter and shading it in the summer was important, especially with so much glass. The design team used strategic placement of overhangs, orientation of the home and operable windows to allow cross ventilation. The upstairs bonus room has five-foot high, fifteen-foot-long stacking windows on two sides that, when open, give the sense of being outside with unobstructed, clear mountain views, the scent of juniper and perhaps the possibility of a butterfly fluttering through.

Maya Makes Magic Inside

To fashion a home for themselves and their two boys, the couple sold the house where Maya grew up, a converted 1915 schoolhouse in Olema (Marin County), California, which she inherited from her mother. Both parents were artists, her mother a puzzle maker and her father a wood carver of artisanal furniture and other pieces (and the road manager for the Youngbloods rock band). The proceeds of the sale helped fund the desert dwelling the family moved into in September 2018, a legacy to her mother’s memory.

A well-known local designer of high-end, handmade leather goods, Maya brought her distinct sense and quirky aesthetics to the project. During construction, Brian says that some of his wife’s choices “pushed my boundaries.” He said they had an agreement upfront about each having veto power. “I only used my veto card once,” he said laughing. “I couldn’t do a pink slab on the island.”

With so much emphasis on bringing the outside in, she chose clean, uncluttered lines that wouldn’t compete with nature. The walls are white, windows black, and the floors are concrete slabs.

“It’s a spacious home but still feels intimate,” said Jeannie Legum of Legum Design who helped select materials for hard surfaces, such as counter slabs, tiles and hardwood. “Maya’s modern design aesthetic worked well with her eclectic artistic flair,” Legum said.

moon residence bedroom
Unobstructed view of the mountains at sunset from the upstairs bonus room.

The white walls feel like gallery space where the couple can display original artwork from Maya’s childhood and items they’ve collected more recently. Some of the pieces serve as the “wow” statement that Maya wanted for each room, such as the recently acquired Valerie Winterholler painting in the living room, the red front door and orange Vola faucets in the powder rooms.

The kitchen island and backsplash above the stove are black and white leather quartzite with the pattern “Skyfall” that feels like water swirling across the surface. Her eye for the unusual landed her a rare and expensive olivewood burl Milo Baughman dining table that she found on Craigslist. The mid-century wire Bertoia dining chairs are covered with sheep skin.

Her father, John Bauer, hand carved a hardwood “tree” chair and the wood-framed, animal mirrors for the home’s décor.

Cow hides and animal furs bring warmth and texture to the concrete floors throughout. Lighting fixtures include numerous large, ball-shaped hanging pendants that add pop to the dining room, island and entryway, and soften the square lines and corners in the house.

moon residence backyard
The Moon family enjoys warmth around the firepit with the inside of the home fully visible through the large doors and windows.

The focal point of the living room is the wood-burning fireplace constructed of black brick. “We’re all attracted to the romance of wood-burning fireplaces,” Tozer said, adding that fires elicit feelings of hominess, comfort and security. Underscoring that point, Brian said he loves sitting in the living room because it’s peaceful and zen-like.

The perfect union of the home’s design and aesthetics is found in the master suite that reaches west and is a quiet place for retreating. A hallway leads past the couple’s closets and bathroom to a cozy bedroom where they can lie in bed to see the occasional shooting star or step out to an alcove with comfy chairs for a nightcap.

Catching Up With Landscape Artist Dave Wachs

Dave Wachs is a wandering landscape painter who draws inspiration from communion with remote places.

Dave Wachs
Photo by Caitlin Eddolls

Dave Wachs is a hard man to catch up with. When you do, he conveys a sense of life in constant motion, whether he’s ping-ponging between his homes in Peshastin, Washington and Bend, traveling internationally or putting paint on canvas in hurried brush strokes. The frantic pace is a contrast to Wachs’ art that captures seemingly eternal landscapes in quiet repose.

The landscape artist’s wandering impulse derives from his love of the outdoors and his love of painting the outdoors. As an artist, he says the deepest inspiration he gets is from nature and the environment. “I don’t go to cities, and I don’t have to add barns or roads to my work,” he said. His landscapes convey an impression of mountainsides, pear orchards and the countryside in vivid colors, often blues, white and splashes of orange.

Those parallel themes of art and being in nature have driven his life since college. While he was earning a degree in graphic design and fine arts painting from Montana State University in Bozeman, he was hitting the ski slopes at every opportunity. “He was part of a group of guys who would focus their binoculars on distant mountain peaks in the summer, looking for one chute that still had snow,” recalled Julie Berry, friend and fellow MSU art student. “Dave was a skiing maniac. He and his friends spent days in the backcountry, climbing up and skiing down.”

She said Wachs committed the same devotion to his art. “We’d show up at the school’s painting studio at ten at night, paint till morning and then go out to breakfast,” Berry said. After graduating in 1983, Wachs moved to Portland from Montana, which he says “was a gnarly transition for me as I didn’t want to leave Montana, but you couldn’t make a living there.” He eventually worked in advertising with Nike and then snagged a project with North Face called Steep Tech to design a collection of hard-working clothing for legendary extreme skier Scot Schmidt, with whom he collaborated.

In 1992, he moved to Bend from Taos, New Mexico, and bought a farm in Tumalo where he worked for twenty-two years. In the three years since he’s left the farm, he’s worked out of studios in Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, Washington and Oregon. “I don’t need a fancy place to work, but it can’t be freezing,” he said with a laugh. His primary residence is a pear orchard outside Peshastin, near Leavenworth, Washington, although he returns to Central Oregon for several months a year.

Dave Wachs Painting
Dave Wachs Painting

Wachs travels to remote and inspiring places in his Chevy pick-up and on dirt bikes, gathering imagery with a camera and sketch book. “I have a rule that I have to have been there to paint a landscape,” he said. “I’m trying to capture the image out of the corner of your eye,” he said.

The resulting landscape pieces could be mistaken for photographs from afar but reveal brush strokes upon closer examination.

“Dave’s paintings take me to those peaceful spots where it’s just air, wind and what’s beneath my feet,” said Berry, who worked in custom picture framing for years in Bozeman and framed dozens of her friend’s pieces for an exhibit in Bend. Before receiving the paintings for framing, she saw photos of them. “They were so expansive in feeling that I thought he was doing six-by-eight-foot paintings. When they arrived, they were small, and I was amazed at how he captured such an expansive feeling on such a tiny surface.”

The landscapes feel eternal, but Wachs’ painting process is fast. He starts a painting with a sketch and then works quickly to cover the canvas in acrylic paint that he mixes himself. “I don’t have patience for oil or the smell of oil paints,” he said. He paints with big brushes and finishes most canvases in two to three days, mostly at night when he says “the creative stuff comes out.” He adds that, “If it looks good at night, it will look good in the day.”

He strives for spontaneity, which ironically takes a lot of discipline. He compares his process to the art of Japanese Haiku poetry. “I have to think or meditate about a piece of work before starting,” he said. He draws inspiration from the 1920s-era Canadian “Group of Seven” artists who explored the countryside and documented their impressions through painting. But he’s clear that he doesn’t emulate them or anyone else. “I think my work looks like my work, and I’m proud of where I am now.”

Dave Wachs Paintings
Photo by Caitlin Eddolls

Wachs has done commissioned work for individuals and businesses across the country. He is currently represented in Central Oregon by art consultant Billye Turner who will be hanging about twenty-five recent landscapes at Franklin Crossing in downtown Bend during June. His pieces sell for $500 to $10,000, with the larger canvases at the higher end.

“The quality of Dave’s work is worthy of collecting…because his genuineness and talent add up to paintings that you’ll love for decades and still be transported to another place,” said Berry.

Dale Largent On The Role of Musicians In The Community

Musician and instructor Dale Largent talks to Teafly about on the role of musicians in Central Oregon, how that has changed over the years and the importance of music in our lives and on our brains.

Dale Largent
Artwork by Teafly

Dale Largent gave up music twenty-three years ago and moved to Bend. But he did not give it up for long, and within the first year of living in Bend, he began playing again, luckily for us. A classically trained percussionist, Largent has been an active member of the music scene in Bend, teaching in various schools and showing up on the stage with Tarrka, Brent Alan and his Funky Friends and perhaps most notably The Moon Mountain Ramblers, with whom he has played regularly for more than twelve years.

On Moving to Bend

Having grown up and lived entirely in the Midwest, I knew I wanted to get out to someplace with mountains. I got here on August 1, 1996. I got the truck all unloaded and the boxes were stacked up. Then it was August 2, and it was a gorgeous day and I thought, “I cannot unpack these boxes, I must go out!” So, I go up into the mountains and explore. And August 3 was a gorgeous day! So I went out and explored and this went on for two weeks. And then it occurred to me, “Wait, every day is going to be gorgeous, I must unpack these boxes even if it’s gorgeous.”

On Finding Music Again

I started playing music at age 5. One of the most disappointing things that I ever grabbed out of adults in my community when I was growing up and/or in popular culture was the message that musicians need a day job. I wasted so much money and time trying to have a day job when I could have just been making money as a musician. Very early on when I was first living here and exploring, a new music store was opening. The owners were there and invited me to come in. They were super friendly. They asked me about my music and I told them, “I quit music for the third and final time.” And the owner looks at me and said, “Then why are you in a music store?” I told him, “I don’t have an answer for you. That is a profound question. Why am I here?” A couple days later, I called up the store and said I’d like to teach, which I had done before. Ever since then I have been a professional musician. But trying to pull it all together is fascinating.

On Learning Through Teaching

Rather than having a day job, I taught music. That has become the thing that sustains me. Even if I am not on stage or practicing music with my band, I am immersed in the craft. There is no better way to get better at something than to teach it. The basics I put my students through, I go through 100 times in a week. If I was on my own practicing, I may only go through them ten times in a week. I think I am significantly better as an artist because of all the teaching I have done.

On Live Music

In Bend I feel like the number of stages that musicians can play on has dramatically changed in twenty-three years. The downside is that the pay has gotten worse. We do not create musical venues, we create brew pubs that decide to have free music so they can compete against the other pubs that have free music. I hear talk in this town so frequently about how we support live music. And on the one hand that is completely genuine. People show up for local artists, and I am very proud of our community. On the other hand, they almost never pay a single dime for that music. That is my experience. This town really supports its local artists with their attendance and appreciation but not with their dollars. And I don’t think it’s their fault, because they aren’t asked to pay.

On the Ups and Downs of Change

I still appreciate that with Bend having all this growth, I still feel community here. It feels very like a community kind of place, but it is the feeling of community as opposed to the actual community. [It used to be that] I had to leave an extra twenty minutes early for anything because we were going to know somebody and we were going to visit. That human connection that I really cherished in Bend—only through growth, not in attitude—I think has been lost. On the upside we have really good restaurants! I used to crave going to Eugene or Portland to get good food. Now I can walk out my door and be very happy about any of the places I have to chose from. The Grove closed, but we got Spork! So, hey that’s a fair trade.

On Finding Your Place

If you are truly driven and passionate to spend your time and energy playing music, then you should definitely do it. Your challenge, as anyone entering a career, is to find the way, the place and the path to do that. I think what is different about what I understand now at age 51 is that there are many places to fit yourself in and there are many ways to fit in. It might take a few of those places pieced together in various ways, but you can fit. You do fit.

Startup Brings Crowdfunding to Nonprofit Industry

What If We Could is a website and social marketing platform that partners with nonprofits on a series of rotating initiatives that alternate between marshalling volunteers, fundraising and gathering in-kind donations.

Greg's Grill Manager Andreas Greoriou (left) and Rys Fairbrother
Greg’s Grill Manager Andreas Greoriou (left) and Rys Fairbrother

In Bend, it’s estimated that there are more than 500 nonprofits working in everything from childcare to mountain bike trail maintenance. Nationally, nonprofits are doing big business. According to the Urban Institute’s most recent report, there were more than 1.5 million nonprofit’s operating in 2015 with $3.5 trillion in revenue.

That picture obscures the reality faced by most nonprofits: they face a perpetual scramble to maintain funding through grants and private donations. The truth is that there aren’t enough charity golf tournaments and galas to fund all the organizations.

It’s a problem that Rys Fairbrother has been thinking about for years. A former account manager at Zolo Media, Fairbrother has a passion for public service that is rooted in his Christian faith. But he is also an enterprising thinker who has worked in marketing and social media. A few years ago, he began to envision a business dedicated to helping nonprofits better serve their constituents while helping inspire ordinary people to acts of altruism.

An extended road trip with his oldest son last summer served as the inspiration to take that dream and turn it into reality. He quit his day job last fall and dedicated himself to the idea, which he launched in January as What If We Could, a website and social marketing platform that partners with nonprofits on a series of rotating initiatives that alternate between marshalling volunteers, fundraising and gathering in-kind donations. It’s all driven by a series of social media campaigns developed by Fairbrother with his nonprofit clients.

“I’ve always loved taking new technologies and old ways of doing things and bringing them together,” Fairbrother said.

In the case of What If We Could, Fairbrother saw an opportunity in the intersection of crowdsourcing platforms like Go Fund Me and the ongoing funding and operational requirements of nonprofits. As with crowdsourcing campaigns, the ability of nonprofits to fundraise is tied to their story. Successful nonprofits understand that and have sophisticated marketing arms to support their work. But most nonprofits don’t have the time and resources necessary to support strong outreach campaigns. What If We Could helps nonprofits articulate that story, while allowing supporters to become vested in specific initiatives through donations and volunteering.

There is also a matter of transparency. Fairbrother said donors are taking a greater interest in where and how their money is being spent.

“I believe that giving is changing. Our parents gave $500 to the United Way and away it went. And now, people want to see where their money goes and how it is being used in the community,” he said.

Fairbrother wanted his platform to address both sides of the equation. Better narratives for nonprofits that resonated with donors and volunteers and a transparent connection between donations and outcomes gives supporters a clear sense of how their giving impacted the community.

A third leg of the stool brings in business sponsors to underwrite the social campaigns. One of the first to get on board is Greg’s Grill, which was already using its wine of the month program to help raise money for non-profits such as Central Oregon Veteran’s Outreach. (COVO) Manager Andreas Gregoriou believes that partnering with Fairbrother will allow him to more than double Greg’s fundraising.

“What we have done with Rys is pretty much that [program] on steroids, so we can maximize revenue for COVO and awareness for COVO, as well,” Gregoriou said. If the program is successful, Fairbrother said the model can be taken to other markets in Oregon and beyond.

“I think there is just such a heart in the community to want to give back and help these nonprofits. They just need the platform,” Fairbrother said.

How Bend Was Built Brick by Brick

Bend’s pioneering brickmaker left an enduring imprint on Bend’s main street. When Hugh O’Kane’s saloon on the corner of Oregon and Bond streets burned down in Bend’s first fire on April 27, 1905, he told the Bend Bulletin, “This is quite a blow to me just at this time […] but I will put up another building and try again.” Ten years later, his other business, the Bend Hotel, also went up in smoke. In 1916, he finally got it right. The fire-proofed O’Kane building still sits at the corner of Oregon and Bond streets.

O’Kane’s losses were hardly outliers in an era long before the advent of fire alarms, sprinkler systems and modern fire-fighting equipment. Blazes could spread quickly with deadly consequences, especially in timber towns like Bend where wood from the local mill was the de facto building material. In those early years, Bend’s business district was cobbled together from an assortment of frame-built buildings. Fire-prone restaurants and saloons stood next-door to grocery or clothing stores. A fire could make short work of an entire business district, severely crippling the local economy.

Although national and state building codes changed after Mrs. O’Leary’s cow famously started the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, it was not until March 1912 when the Bend City Council bolstered the local building codes and demanded fireproof buildings in the business district.

“The switch from wood frame construction to brick, stone and concrete is reflective of fires ripping through downtown areas,” said Michael Houser, former Deschutes County Historic Preservation Planner. “There are many examples of entire downtowns being obliterated by a single fire.”

Construction of the O'Donnell Building, 933 Wall, in 1912
PHOTO COURTESY OF DESCHUTES HISTORICAL MUSEUM

More than half of Prineville’s business section was leveled in a catastrophic fire in June 1922 and Sisters was hit with a big blaze in September 1925 that destroyed half of the town.

As Bend matured, builders and investors started looking for a material that would stand the test of time and the elements. They turned to Bend’s premiere brickmaker, Arthur “Art” Horn. An enterprising newcomer, Horn took the long way to Bend. Born in Auburn, Michigan, Horn moved to Bellingham, Washington in 1903 and to Bend in 1910.

After the first train rolled into Bend on October 5, 1911, the city went through a building boom. Perhaps seeing the opportunity to supply bricks to the commercial district, Horn bought the languishing Bend Brick and Lumber Company located between west Bend and Shevlin Park.

The first brick building in Bend’s business district housed the Bend Bulletin. Built in 1912, the one-story building comprised 27,000 bricks and cost $1,600. The building sits across from the old post office building on Wall Street.

Outside the old Bend Bulletin building.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DESCHUTES HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Horn started out making common bricks, which had round corners and required larger and irregular mortar joints. As design trends changed, Bend customers wanted a more uniform look and started requesting so-called repressed bricks.

Horn initially did not have the machines needed to produce bricks with sharper edges. In March 1916, Horn invested in a new $3,000 soft mud brick machine, modernizing his operation.

“The new re-pressed brick, which the company is making this year on a large scale is proving popular among local builders,” Horn told the Bend Bulletin.

Building with bricks soon became a status symbol in Bend; it also demanded skilled labor.

“It’s what [business men] from the East Coast were accustomed to,” said Heidi Slaybaugh, architect with BLRB Architects and chair of the Bend Landmark Commission. “The more details [the building featured] the more money you had.”

Horn sold the company in the early 1920s and moved to Eugene to start another brickyard. The Bend Brick and Lumber Company produced bricks until the late 1920s before new owners shuttered the operation. In 1932, the former brickyard was turned into a racetrack and rodeo grounds. By then better transportation and evolving markets meant that bricks could be imported into Bend more cheaply than they could be produced here.

The local brick-making era was over, but Horn and his upstart brick business had already left an enduring imprint on downtown Bend, forming the literal cornerstone of the urban center.

Weekend Roundup: May 2-5

There are some great events happening around Central Oregon this weekend, including a farm-to-table dinner, a home and garden show, a paddling event and more.

Spring Paddlefest Bend
Photo by Jon Tapper courtesy of Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

COBA Spring Home & Garden Show
May 3-5 | Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond | Free

The COBA Spring Home & Garden Show is a must-attend event for anyone who is interested in upgrading their home this season. Interior design, gardening and landscaping vendors will be on hand all weekend to answer questions and provide inspiration.

Faces of Farming Gala
May 3 | Tetherow Resort, Bend | $85-$95

Support Central Oregon’s local farmers and ranchers at the fourth annual Faces of Farming Gala. Held at Tetherow Resort, the event includes a delicious farm-to-table meal prepared by Tetherow’s head chef, a photo series of local producers and a silent auction.

Plough to Pint with Mecca Grade Estate Malt
May 3 | Worthy Brewing | $75

Support the effort to restore the Deschutes River while enjoying a five-course meal at the Plough to Pint event, hosted by Worthy Brewing and the Coalition for the Deschutes. Guests will sample dishes prepared by Worthy’s kitchen using ingredients from Madras’ Mecca Grade Malt farm. Each dish will be paired with a beer from Worthy’s line-up. Guests also receive a to-go six-pack from Worthy.

Spring Paddlefest
May 4 | Riverbend Park, Bend | Free

Test out kayak, paddleboard and canoe demos for free during the annual Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe Spring Paddlefest. There are also two-hour introductory clinics to join on Friday and Sunday for anyone interested in learning more about the sport.

Shaniko’s Hoot, Holler and Sing
May 4 | Shaniko | Free

If you want to get out of town this weekend, head to Shaniko for the second annual Hoot, Holler and Sing event. It’s a day of free live music at one of Oregon’s iconic ghost towns. Acoustic duo Phoenix will perform from 3-4 p.m., but more bands will be on stage all day. There will also be a classic car show and free food from Grumpy’s food truck.

Odds & Ends

First Friday takes place this weekend. Spend some time in downtown Bend or the Old Mill District on Friday evening and browse the featured local art. The High Desert Museum has a new exhibit to peruse this weekend. “Desert Reflections: Water Shapes the West” explores water’s role in contemporary issues.

Camp Sherman Is A Peaceful, Accessible Year-Round Retreat

Camp Sherman offers adventures and activities for everyone in the family.

Camp Sherman
CAMP SHERMAN

Camp Sherman was established in the early 1890s by wheat farmers from Sherman County looking to escape the summer heat by lounging by the cool waters of the Metolius River. Since they first tacked up a shoebox sign declaring this area their own summer camp, not much has changed.

The small community off Highway 20, only forty-five minutes by car from Bend, is home to a few lodgings, a tiny school, a fire station, a couple of restaurants, one store and loads of charm. This area is one of the few remaining places where one still cannot get reliable cell reception, which is what soothes and relaxes the tech-addled visitor, once they give into the situation.

Sometimes my family and I overnight in a campground or cabin to the yips of a pack of excitable coyotes howling at the moon. Come dawn, we awake to cool mountain-air mornings, the sweet smells of Ponderosa pine and snowbrush and pink sunrises promising sunny days. But Camp Sherman is an equally terrific day trip.

Begin your exploration at the Camp Sherman store, which is stocked with a huge variety of goods from sun-proof clothing to fine wine to canned soup. Pick up a picnic lunch and eat outside with a view of the Metolius. Stroll down the river trail after lunch and get a glimpse of some of the area’s campgrounds and the pristine river, known for its wild rainbow and elusive bull trout, a two-fer that draws fly-fishing anglers year-round to the fabled waters.

If you’ve never picked up a fly rod in your life, you can still marvel at the Metolius River, which springs literally from underground, or as it appears, from a rocky hillside. Drive to its headwaters a few miles from Camp Sherman to see the river’s perpetual rebirth. The site is accessed by a short quarter-mile trail with a killer view of Mount Jefferson. Expect to encounter a mighty band of yellow pine chipmunks accustomed to dining on visitors’ treats.

Also accustomed to bite-sized morsels delivered by human hands are the fish at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, the birthplace of six varieties of fish. Fish food from a vending machine can be tossed in a long cement pool to trout and kokanee, which ambitiously leap and swipe at the scattered bits.

End your day with dinner under the pines on the deck at Lake Creek Lodge, which feels as peaceful and quaint as it likely did years ago when the first visitors relaxed here. You can just see a glimpse of the sunset on the Three Sisters.

Sophia Rodriguez Heads to BMX World Championships

Sophia Rodriguez, a Bend youngster who took the bike world by storm, heads to Belgium for the BMX world championships.

Sophia Rodriguez
PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN

After winning a qualifying race in New Mexico earlier this spring, Sophia Rodriguez is headed back to BMX racing’s most prestigious event, the World Championships, set for July in Belgium. A month later, she’ll enter middle school back here in Bend.

This summer will mark the 10-year-old’s second world championship appearance. Her first came in 2017, when she stunned the BMX world with a sixth-place finish in her age group, despite having taken up BMX less than nine months earlier.

“We went there so unprepared,” recalls Albert Rodriguez, Sophia’s father, of the 2017 world championship held in South Carolina. “She was wearing football gloves and a heavy helmet. I had no clue what BMX was about—or how it worked. But after going to worlds, getting sixth out of fifty-five girls from all over the world, that was the game changer. From there, we were hooked.”

Sophia Rodriguez
SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ

The Rodriguez family, which in addition to Sophia and Albert includes mom, Jinky, and younger siblings Stella, 6, and Nikolai, 1, moved to Bend from Anaheim in 2016 for a lifestyle change. Albert, an avid cyclist who raced as a semi-pro for many years in SoCal, continued to race mountain bikes once they arrived in Oregon, and Sophia often tagged along, entering kids races anytime she could.

Now a fifth-grader at Buckingham Elementary, Sophia says she stills rides and trains on her mountain and road bike, but her primary focus has turned to the high-intensity, don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it discipline of BMX—a close combat sport akin to ski or snowboard cross.

In late 2016, young Sophia accepted an invitation from a friend to try BMX for the first time at the High Desert track. Since then, Sophia’s BMX star has risen meteorically. Hours of sprint practice and careful study watching videos of other racers has led to big improvements and a new nickname, “So Fast” Rodriguez, coined by a national announcer.

No longer flying under the radar, Sophia is currently ranked first in Oregon and fourth nationally in her age group. She also recently picked up her first major sponsor, Yess, a Canadian BMX frame manufacturer.

Fast and unpredictable, BMX racing involves sprinting out of a start gate on a short, off-road course over bumps and berms in a series of qualifying heats that may last only thirty seconds.

“I’m really good at the pumping because I have a strong upper body,” explains Sophia. “If there’s a long pump section, my gap gets bigger and bigger. I’m good at snapping the gate, which means getting out in first. Because if you don’t get out in first, it’s really hard to come back since there’s no more room to get in the front.”

Sophia Rodriguez
SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ

Despite the emphasis on a fast start, Sophia says she doesn’t get too anxious before her races.

“I take a few breaths before I go up,” she says, “and that calms my nerves to be relaxed.”

While Bend’s climate doesn’t lend itself to riding BMX year-round and can pose a disadvantage at times when Sophia competes against riders from more temperate regions, Albert believes it makes for a more well-rounded athlete less susceptible to burnout. He credits Sophia’s success not only to her focus and willingness to train, but also to the many hours the father and daughter spend road or mountain biking together “just for fun.”

At this summer’s world championship in Europe, Sophia says her goal is to win a world title. It may be her first, but likely won’t be her last.

Find Cycling, Windsports, History and Craft Beer in Hood River

This spring, spend a weekend exploring Hood River, where you’ll find a mix of outdoor recreation, local bounty and unique history in the backdrop of the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood.

Hood River
Hood River

It’s a beautiful day for a bike ride. To our left, the great Columbia River glows deep blue under the May sunshine. To our right, a lush hardwood forest of alder and rhododendron provides shade. The road beneath our tires is 100 years old, and was the nation’s first planned scenic roadway, built to take in Columbia River Gorge views just as stunning today as they were then.

I am new to road cycling, and my husband spent years as a competitive cyclist, so finding compatible routes for us can be a challenge. The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail out of Hood River strikes the perfect balance. The historic highway is mostly famous as a scenic car route, but several sections are designated non-motorized use only, including seven miles between Hood River and Mosier. No traffic, outstanding scenery, two tunnels to navigate, history, terrain just hilly enough to be interesting—there is enough to like for both of us, though one of us is still slower (me).

An hour and a half later, ride completed, we drive into Hood River for lunch. Full Sail Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in Oregon. Murals grace the walls, depicting the history and beauty of the Gorge, and huge windows frame magnificent river views. Salmon fish and chips and a fire burger hit the spot, and then it’s time to explore the town.

Hood River
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN HEEB

Set on a steep slope that descends to the Columbia River, with Mount Hood looming in the distance, Hood River has an unbeatable setting. From just about anywhere in the downtown area, the river is in view. The energy of that waterway, and the famous wind created by the Columbia River Gorge, define the town. We wander from store to store, perusing sportswear at Melika and the Ruddy Duck, jewelry at Twiggs and Chemistry, art at Made in the Gorge Artists Co-op.

Our room for the night is at The Hood River Hotel. Dating back to 1888 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel has restored original features including lofty ceilings, expansive windows, a brass elevator gate and a marble-faced lobby fireplace. Rooms are recently renovated and are comfortable with the warm hint of history, and large windows overlooking the street front.

For dinner we visit Three Rivers Grill, where it is just warm enough to dine on the second-floor outdoor patio with sweeping views of the town and the river. The French-inspired menu satisfies with Northwest steelhead and halibut almandine. We round out our evening with a nightcap at Oak Street Pub, complete with a round of shuffleboard (similar to the cycling, I did not emerge from this contest as the winner).

Hood River
PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN

Bette’s Place Restaurant has a legendary reputation, and sure enough, when we get there in the morning there is already a line out the door. Located in a classic old-style mall and family-owned for four decades, the diner offers a huge menu of deliciousness including a Dungeness crab benedict and a Mexi scramble. After the generous meal, it was tempting to go back to the hotel and take a nap, but the sun was out and the waterfront was calling, so we stroll down to the Hood River Waterfront Park.

Windsports were practically founded in Hood River. On any given day, the bright colors of kiteboards and windsurfing rigs dot the water. The wind that makes all of these windsports possible is blowing, but the air temperature is balmy and the park full of weekend revelers.

Bend was calling for our return, but we take our time leaving the Hood River Valley. The “Fruit Loop,” as it’s called, consists of thirty destinations in the fertile valley offering wine, cider, fruit, veggies and more. We stop at Packer Orchards and Bakery for a jar of slow simmered apple butter, Wy’East Winery for a bottle of pinot noir and Fox Tail Cider for a tiny sip of triple hopped cider before we head for home.

Restaurants

Full Sail Brewing was founded in 1987 in an old fruit cannery and still anchors the waterfront with great brews and food.
Double Mountain Brewing in the heart of the city has seating inside and out and specializes in brick-oven pizza.
Bette’s Place Restaurant has been going strong under one family’s leadership for four decades, with a huge breakfast menu and frequent wait times.
Three Rivers Grill is the place to be in the summer, when the second-story patio offers outdoor dining with an incredible view of the Columbia River.
Frement Brewing is Hood River’s newest brewery, located in an ultra-modern building near Waterfront Park.
Solstice Wood Fire Pizza is also on the waterfront, and a local’s favorite for hyperlocal ingredients and riverfront views.

Lodging

Hood River Hotel has anchored downtown since 1888 and is still a great central location from which to base your stay, within walking distance of most everything great.
Oak Street Hotel is another downtown gem, a boutique hotel with nine rooms and a farm-fresh breakfast based on seasonally-available foods.
Columbia Gorge Hotel is the region’s grand old beauty—a gorgeous Mission-style hotel right on the river, built in 1920 by one of the developers of the historic Columbia River Highway.

Nearby Attractions

Hood River Mountain Trail takes hikers atop a 2,000-plus-foot rise south of Hood River, from which wildflowers and orchards stretch to Mount Hood, popping impressively in the distance.
Hood River Fruit Loop is a thirty-five-mile scenic drive that begins and ends in Hood River, passing through the valley’s orchards, forests, and farmlands, visiting orchards, wineries, farms and more.

Four Day Hikes on the Oregon Desert Trail

The 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail can be experienced as an epic backpacking excursion. It can also be explored on day hikes that still show off the stunning landscape. Find maps, waypoints and directions on from the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s Trail Resources.

CRACK IN THE GROUND
CRACK IN THE GROUND

Just east of Christmas Valley, the aptly named Crack in the Ground trail drops onto the floor of a two-mile volcanic fissure. A favorite of local geology buffs; some rock scrambling is required. Make it an overnight adventure at the rustic Green Mountain campground. (BYO drinking water!)

Moss Pass to Morgan Butte offers panoramic vistas from the Steens to Mount Shasta. This Fremont National Forest trail, about an hour’s drive south of Paisley, is open to horses and mountain bikers, too.

Branching off the main route through the Steens, the Little Blitzen Gorge trail follows the river through a glacier-carved gorge. Try an out-and-back hike to 4-Mile Campground or backpack in to reach the waterfall.

Near the Owyhee River at the end of the ODT, Leslie Gulch offers dramatic spires and unusual honeycomb rock formations. Bighorn sheep and elk roam the area, and birdwatchers can spot chukar, songbirds and raptors.

Exploring the Oregon Desert Trail

At five years old, the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail can be enjoyed as a feast or series of bite-sized outback adventures.

Exploring The Oregon Desert Trail
PHOTO BY NATE WYETH

When Robin Sullivan talks about her hike on the Oregon Desert Trail last summer, the enthusiasm on her face belies the words. “I had a painful blister on my foot, I’d spilled my water, and I had to backtrack up a ridge after going the wrong way,” she said and laughs, jumping up to demonstrate climbing over the boulders.

She’d covered more than fifty miles, backpacking with a friend, but cut the trip short, because “stuff happens.” Despite the mishaps, she’s already planning routes for this year. What is it about the Oregon Desert Trail that draws her back?

“Maybe it’s the solitude, or the incredible stars, or the physical challenge…the desert is full of surprises.”

Camping in the Owyhee Canyonlands
PHOTO BY KAT DIERICKX

From the Badlands to the Canyons

The Oregon Desert Trail is a relative newcomer to the list of North American through-hiking trails, which includes iconic routes such as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s the first long-distance hike created by a conservation organization, designed to introduce the beauty of Oregon’s desert to a broader audience and to nurture appreciation for public lands.

The Oregon Natural Desert Association, or ONDA, began mapping the route in 2011. They pieced together existing trails, old wagon roads and routes across public lands. By 2014, they’d connected 750 miles, beginning in the Badlands outside of Bend. The route wanders south along the Fremont National Forest, then arcs east through Hart Mountain and into Steens Mountain. Looping around to the Owyhee Canyonlands, it terminates at the Owyhee State Campground.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Oregon Desert Trail. To date, only twenty-six hikers have through-hiked the entire 750 miles, a feat that requires intense planning and support. Many more hikers are like Robin Sullivan, targeting different regions on shorter hikes. There’s so much to experience, after all: sagebrush plateaus and ancient gorge rims, hidden petroglyphs and hot springs and the darkest starry nights in North America.

“Immersion in the desert landscape is addicting,” said Renee Patrick, ONDA’s desert trail coordinator and a through-hiker herself. Patrick wants to make hiking the ODT possible for every hiker. Since the ODT has launched, she’s been developing a trail guide complete with digital tools to help more people access the desert and prepare for the challenges of the trail.

“The trail guide is meant to remove barriers to hiking,” said Patrick. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to fall in love with the desert.” (The trail guide, maps and interactive spreadsheets are all free to download from onda.org)

Hiking in Steens Mountain with Wildhorse Lake in the background
PHOTO BY WHITNEY WHITEHOUSE

Digital Tools for an Unplugged Experience

Even a day hike in the desert requires preparation. Packing ample drinking water is critical, as water sources vary greatly throughout the hiking season. ONDA’s water guidelines provide low-tech advice, like how to cache water along your route, and there are high-tech tools too: an interactive spreadsheet lists GPS waypoints for water sources. Hikers update water levels in real time and check the status of what lies ahead.

Water is the first concern, but navigation skills run a close second, especially because most of the trail is unmarked.

“The ODT is not a distinct line on the map, like the PCT,” explained Patrick. “The trail often goes cross-country, where you can’t just follow the path. You have to engage with the landscape.” The lack of signage makes for a more natural experience, but it requires old-school paper maps and compass navigation, as well as digital maps with GPS waypoints.

Patrick encourages hikers to download and study the map PDFs. The terrain is rated like a ski run, from easy greens to black diamonds. Each trail is detailed with fence and gate locations, trailheads, road access points and topographic lines. Mountain bikers and horsepackers will find helpful information to avoid conflict between users along the trail.

Finding Solitude and Community in the Desert

Many hikers, like Sullivan, enjoy the solitude of the open desert. But the small communities dotted along the trail are worth exploring before or after a day on the trail. Save some time for towns like Summer Lake, where the hot springs revive trail-weary muscles, or Paisley, where the Mercantile and Pioneer Saloon welcome hikers. Many towns keep registries for hikers to share information, and local trail angels often support hikers along the way.

For the solitary days along the trail, Sullivan offers some advice: “First, pack extra socks! They’re critical to avoid blisters. Second, keep an open mind, like an artist looking for a new palette, and you’ll find beauty everywhere.”

Weekend Roundup: April 24-29

There is a ton of great events this weekend across Central Oregon. Whether you’re in the mood for golf, cycling, theater, films or live music, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Cascade Gravel Grinder
Cascade Gravel Grinder. Photo by Adam Lapierre

Central Oregon Shootout
April 25-28 | Central Oregon | $625 per two-person team

Grab your golfing buddy and make sure you get a spot at one of the region’s biggest golfing events of the year. Black Butte Ranch, Eagle Crest and Aspen Lakes will be the courses hosting this year’s Central Oregon Shootout. It’s a weekend of round robin golf for everyone and any skill level, with more than $20,000 in cash prizes handed out.

Bend Bike Swap
April 26-28 | Thump Coffee in Northwest Crossing | Free Admission

Held at the new Thump Coffee location in NorthWest Crossing, the Bend Bike Swap is back this year for a three-day event kicking off Central Oregon’s cycling season with great deals on bikes.

BANFF Mountain Film Festival
April 27-28 | Tower Theatre | $22 advance, $25 day-of

Watch spectacular outdoor films while supporting REALMS Magnet School. The BANFF Mountain Film Festival will showcase epic water, mountain and snow adventures. You’ll leave feeling inspired to get after it.

Cascade Gravel Grinder
April 26-28 | Central Oregon | Starting at $25

The Cascade Gravel Grinder, a gravel cycling event that takes place in different regions around Oregon, comes to the high desert this weekend. The three-day biking event will take place in Bend and the Cascades. Join the rides or races on one or all of the days. The routes include elevation gains and miles of scenic landscapes. On Sunday, stay for the party at Village Green City Park in Sisters.

“The Columnist”
Opens April 26 | Cascades Theatre | $16-$20

Support Central Oregon’s thriving theater scene and our talented local actors. Cascades Theatre presents “The Columnist,” a dramatic play written by David Auburn that follows a political journalist at the height of the Cold War and in the midst of a changing American culture.

Live Music

Durango, Colorado-based modern rock and soul band PJ Moon and the Swappers will be playing at Silver Moon Brewing on Thursday. At the Domino Room, Kyle Cook and Paul McDonald perform Wednesday. Aaron Watson with Dylan Jakobsen will be taking the stage Saturday night at Midtown Ballroom.

Weekend Roundup: April 17-21

Not to jinx it, but it looks like spring will finally hit Central Oregon this weekend. Check out these events (most taking place outside) to fill your weekend calendar, including the Earth Day Fair & Parade, a Rendezvan at Mt. Bachelor, a classic car show in Redmond and more.

earth day parade bend oregon
Earth Day Fair & Parade

Rendezvan at Mt. Bachelor
April 17-21 | Mt. Bachelor | Overnight spots sold out

Join RVers, campers and vanlifers as they congregate at Mt. Bachelor for Rendezvan. There will be a stage with live music acts every day, a full bar, a skateboard mini ramp, food trucks, on-mountain activities and more. Overnight spots are sold out, but you can still enjoy the festivities throughout the day and into the evening hours.

Earth Day Fair & Parade
April 20 | The Environmental Center, Bend | Free

The annual Earth Day Fair & Parade begins with a parade for families through downtown Bend, where kids and parents can dress up as their favorite animal or plant. That is followed by a fair at Troy Field with activities for kids and families as well as live music and local food.

P.S. Worthy Brewing, in collaboration with The Environmental Center, is also hosting an Earth Day celebration at their headquarters on the east side of Bend. Check out the redesign of their cans and learn about what Worthy is doing to be even more sustainable than before.

Bend Marathon and Half
April 20 | Bend | $40-$130 (Kids 12 and under race free)

One of Central Oregon’s premier running events returns this year. Join the Bend Marathon and Half and try out the new course that will take runners across Central Oregon’s varied terrain and landscape. Stay for the after party at the finish line.

Wild Ride Classic Car Show
April 20 | Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond | Free to attend

Classic car enthusiasts will want to be in Redmond on Saturday. A car show is taking place at Wild Ride Brewing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. After the show there will be live music from Toast & Jam.

Live Music

Dennis Johnson and the Mississippi Ramblers will be at McMenamins on Wednesday night. On Thursday night at the Tower Theater in Bend, Dave Halston and his Little Big Band will present a tribute to Frank Sinatra. And Volcanic has a full line-up this weekend, including Ben Rice Band, Company Grand and High Step Society.

Weekend Roundup: April 10-14

Watch fly fishing films, see Oregon’s Poet Laureate, listen to a fun take on Oregon history and more this weekend.

International Fly Fishing Film Festival
International Fly Fishing Film Festival

International Fly Fishing Film Festival
April 10 | Tower Theatre | $15

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival showcases the best films about fly fishing around the world. The event will have short and feature-length films and will have door prizes and raffles. Go for the inspiring footage of fly fishing and stay for the chance to score some new gear.

Writers Reading: Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford Reads
April 11 | East Bend Public Library | Free

Kim Stafford is Oregon’s Poet Laureate and will be reading at the East Bend Public Library on Thursday evening. The son of 1970 United States Poet Laureate William Stafford, Kim lives in Portland and teaches poetry and writing at Lewis & Clark College.

Hammered HERstory
April 12 | The Capitol, Bend | $10

If you like the Comedy Central show Drunk History, then you won’t want to miss Hammered History at The Capitol this weekend. On Friday night, the panelists will educate the audience about Oregon women’s history, all while drinking.

Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge
April 12-14 | Mt. Bachelor | Free to watch

The Big Wave Challenge is an annual style-based and surf-inspired snowboarding competition, featuring sweeping turns and banks that mimic ocean waves. Hosted by Oregon surf legend and Mt. Bachelor Ambassador Gerry Lopez, the race is a fun event to watch if you’re on the mountain this weekend.

USA BMX Great NW Nationals
April 12-14 | Deschutes County Expo Center | $10 parking

Watch professional BMX racers in a thrilling competition at the Deschutes County Expo Center. There will be big jumps, big air, steep downhills and deep banks for BMX racers to navigate on the dirt course.

Live Music

Latin and R&B band Savila will be playing at McMenamins on Wednesday night. Popular Pacific Northwest band Precious Byrd is releasing their first album. To celebrate with them, head to Volcanic Theatre Pub on Saturday night for a raucous concert and party. Also on Saturday night, Dirty Revival and Jelly Bread will be taking the stage at the Domino Room.

Worthy Brewing Has A New Look, Same Stellar Beer

Rebrand in hand, Worthy Brewing looks to solidify its reputation as an industry leader with a renewed focus on sustainability.

Bend’s Worthy Brewing recently unveiled new, redesigned cans as part of a full-scale rebranding effort that showcases the work of a local artist and portrays the brewery’s mantra, “Earth First. Beer Second.”

The move allows each of Worthy’s unique beers to tell their own story, but still fall under a new, bold and consistent brand.

“Each can represents a piece of Worthy’s identity,” said Director of Marketing Meghan Hoey. “And together they help tell Worthy’s story.”

That story revolves around making great beer with an organizational dedication to environmental stewardship.

Worthy, founded in 2012 by Roger Worthington, is a local industry leader in green practices including local sourcing of hops and restaurant ingredients, the use of alternative energy—thanks to more than 160 solar panels, waste repurposing and environmentally-friendly packaging.

Additionally, Worthy partners with several local nonprofits including Oregon Natural Desert Association, The Environmental Center, Tour des Chutes, Deschutes Public Library Foundation, Commute Options, The High Desert Museum and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance.

The Worthy Garden Club is an on-site nonprofit that features a greenhouse and hop yard in addition to the Hopservatory, which raises science literacy through tours, lectures, night sky and solar viewings.

“We’re not just a craft brewery in Bend that has great food and good times in the summer,” Hoey said. “We’re those things and we’re a company that donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofits every year, a company that gives back to the community here in Bend and across Oregon through various events and programs.”

The new branding calls attention to all of those efforts and features the work of Bend artist Paul Leighton, whose signature style is synonymous with Central Oregon’s outdoor lifestyle. The Sol Power Pilsner features a design highlighting Worthy’s commitment to solar energy while the Lights Out Stout showcases the Hopservatory and raises awareness to keeping Bend’s night skies dark.

Leighton’s hand-drawn work can be found on Worthy’s other flagship beer labels and throughout the restaurant and marketing efforts.

Worthy plans to continue expanding its can offerings, but also will continue to bottle select single-serve beers through a new reusable bottling program in September “to get as close to zero waste as we can,” Hoey said.

Hoey says the brewery also plans to take steps to become even more sustainable than it already is and, ultimately, serve as a catalyst to broader efforts. “Hopefully other businesses follow suit and maybe policies even adapt,” she said. “And we have delicious beer as a great vehicle to push that message.”

The unique brews, on-site observatory and garden and creative restaurant space are just part of what help Worthy stand out in an area chock-full of amazing breweries. It’s exactly the culture Worthington envisioned when he opened the brewery.

“At Worthy, we want to enhance the guest experience,” Worthington said, “and also do the right thing by Mother Earth.”

Earth Day Launch Party

It’s fitting that Worthy has chosen Saturday, April 20, to celebrate the new can launch with an Earth Day celebration in collaboration with The Environmental Center in Bend. The festivities at Worthy will kick off at noon, following the Environmental Center’s annual parade and fair. Events include brewery tours, solar viewings and Hopservatory tours, information booths with Worthy’s community partners, special food offerings live music from Precious Byrd and more.

Worthy will join The Environmental Center in selling raffle tickets throughout the day for a handful of prizes, including a two-night staycation at Brasada Ranch. Proceeds from the event will go to The Environmental Center.

Event Details

12-2 p.m. Hopservatory tours and solar viewing
3-4 p.m. Brewery tours
3:30-4:30 p.m. Succulents from the Worthy Garden Club will be sold in the new cans
3:30-5 p.m. Worthy’s community partners will set up on the patio to share their mission and offer information on ways to get involved.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Precious Byrd takes the stage
8-8:30 p.m. Raffle prizes will be announced

Open Hub Singing Club Practices Melodic Medicine

The Open Hub Singing Club is a group formed by Ian Carrick that explores the mental and physical benefits of singing in a group.

Local Vocal
Open Hub Singing Club

When we think about getting healthier, diet may come to mind first—what we put into our mouths. Now, think about what may come out—in the form of song. Increasingly, research shows that singing can improve physical and mental health, boosting the immune system, reducing stress hormone levels, aiding asthma, helping stave off dementia, and elevating general health, mood and well-being.

Although singing is as old as humanity, new local vocal opportunities are piping up. Consider chanting, a capella, folk, gospel, spiritual, rock choir, and singing for newborns in intensive care and for the dying. At the same time, longtime groups in the area, including a youth choir nearly three decades old, are thriving.

Ian Carrick has been convinced of the transformational and healing power of singing by his experiences, from harmonizing under a full moon with rural workers in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, to leading songs in a drug-and-alcohol treatment center in Newberg, to traveling to Decorah, Iowa, to meet with a community song leader, Liz Rog. She introduced him to Open Hub Singing in 2016. It was that style of group singing, in which people harmonize in uplifting songs passed on through oral tradition, that caught the imagination of Carrick, a 26-year-old who has lived in Bend since age 1.

Rog’s music-driven work in the Midwest was moving to Carrick, as was what he’d seen in Sumatra a couple of years earlier, during two trips to study global poverty, language and culture through Seattle University. “I was blown away. Singing was what people did before work, on the farm, after dinner…it’s a big component of the culture,” Carrick said.

Rog urged him to start an Open Hub Singing Club in Bend, and he did. More than fifty members have joined the welcoming, audition-free group, which is focused on joy. Carrick’s vision is for singing together to become an essential part of a more honest, less fearful, kinder culture.

The group has done a singing flash mob at the Old Mill and sings to welcome friends home, say goodbye, honor new endeavors, let tired dreams die and support people of all ages in the midst of life transitions. Another fledgling group seeks to offer ease and compassion to people at the thresholds of life, be it birth or death.

Yolanda Sanchez-Peterson brings to Bend more than a decade of experience in the California Bay Area singing for newborns in intensive care and for the dying. For the past three years, she has been singing at bedsides for St. Charles Hospice Volunteers and has formed the Bend Threshold Singers. The members strive to sing virtually any kind of music upon request for people at the end of their lives throughout Central Oregon.

“This singing isn’t about having a fantastic voice. It’s more about knowing how to be quiet and present in the midst of what I consider to be any person going through a sacred space,” Sanchez-Peterson said.

Weekend Roundup: April 3-7

All the best things to do around Central Oregon this weekend, including events for kids and families.

Mt. Bachelor’s Vertfest

Youth Lit Fest
April 6 | Summit High School, Bend | Free, but registration required

Award-winning authors and illustrators will be at the Youth Lit Fest, an all ages literary event held at Summit High School. Hear from local and national authors and illustrators, including a Newberry Honor winner and a Caldecott Medal winner, and check out some of the latest releases from publishing houses.

Vertfest
April 6 | Mt. Bachelor, Bend | $15-$35

Vertfest is a multi-stop event at Mt. Bachelor that covers all things backcountry. There will be demos, clinics, races and more to spread awareness about backcountry sports and safety. Walk the Vendor Village, hang out around the bonfire on the snow and roast s’mores and meet other backcountry enthusiasts.

Fly & Field 15th Annual Fly Swap
April 6 | Bend | Fly & Field Outfitters

Anglers will want to be in Bend this weekend to score major deals on fly fishing gear. Find gently used rods, reels, waders, boots and more all weekend at Fly & Field Outfitters. There will also be discounts on new gear throughout the store.

Running Events

Join the 5k, 10k, or half-marathon Salmon Run that takes place in Bend on Saturday. Money raised from the event will be donated to The Environmental Center of Bend. The annual Horse Butte 10 Miler also takes place on Saturday. This trail run is a fun, low-key event that draws some serious runners.

Odds & Ends

A new brewery opens up in Bend this weekend. Bevel Craft Brewing hosts an open house on Saturday at their location on SE Amour Road from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be food trucks and lots of great new beer to try.

The Bend Art Center is having an art sale that you won’t want to miss if you’re a local art supporter. The Gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will have discounted pieces from Pacific Northwest artists such as Rick Bartow, Lillian Pitt and John Simpkins.

The last Blockbuster in the world is also a new comedy venue in Bend. This all-ages event will have a line-up of local standup comedians performing at the store on April 6. Tickets are $8-$10.

Weekend Roundup: March 27-31

It’s a great weekend to be out and about in Central Oregon. There’s the High Desert Rodeo in Redmond, Hella Big Air at Mt. Bachelor, TEDxBend, the Deschutes River Rendezvous and a climbing event for women.

She Moves Mountains Smith Rock
Photo courtesy of She Moves Mountains

High Desert Stampede
March 29-30 | Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond | $20-$75

Dust off your cowboy boots, because Central Oregon’s rodeo season is back. The High Desert Stampede is held at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center and brings the top rodeo competitors to Redmond for a weekend of riding, roping and racing.

She Moves Mountains Opening Weekend
March 29-31 | Central Oregon | Varies

Join a group of women for a weekend of climbing, yoga, beer and stoke for being outside. She Moves Mountains is an organization dedicated to getting more women into climbing. This weekend is part of a larger group of events around Bend Women’s March, a month of events for women in Central Oregon. On Friday night, you can also watch a film presented at Mountain Supply followed by a Q&A with the She Moves Mountains guides.

Riverhouse Rendezvous Deschutes River Kayak Race
March 30-31 | Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe | $10-$25

This whitewater slalom kayaking race is a popular event for paddling enthusiasts in Central Oregon. This is the tenth annual race and will take place on the stretch of water behind Riverhouse on the Deschutes where professionals and amateurs to test their whitewater kayaking skills.

TEDxBend
March 30 | Bend Senior High School | $28-$80

Hear from entrepreneurs, leaders, activists and innovators at the 2019 TEDxBend conference. This year’s theme is “The Vastness,”and the talks cover a range of topics, including marketing, feminism, engineering, technology, and conservation from local and national experts in their fields.

Badlands Bash
March 30 | FootZone, Bend | Free

Celebrate ten years of Oregon’s Badlands Wilderness with the Oregon Natural Desert Association at FootZone in downtown Bend. The Badlands Bash will have a haiku contest, raffle and free beer for anyone that brings a cup.

On the Slopes

Mt. Bachelor is hosting Hella Big Air this Saturday. Watch brave skiers and snowboarders compete for cash prizes by sending a 60-foot jump near the West Village Lodge. Also on Saturday, Hoodoo Ski Area is hosting its Rodeo Day, with a chili cook-off and free rides on a mechanical bull in the lodge.

Weekend Roundup: March 20-24

This weekend, take part in Cowgirl Poetry and Music, hear one-of-a-kind street music, eat a gourmet dinner at The Suttle Lodge or go to one of the great concerts that are happening in Central Oregon.

Nature Nights: Living in the Human Age
March 20 | Tower Theatre, Bend | Free

Join the Deschutes Land Trust and a former photo editor at National Geographic for Nature Nights: Living in the Human Age, a visual journey of the Anthropocene, or the world in the modern era dominated by humans. The presentation will explore the human footprint on the environment and the challenges we face.

Cowgirl Poetry and Music
March 21 | High Desert Museum, Bend | $15

The longstanding tradition of sharing stories through music and poetry around a campfire comes to the High Desert Museum on Thursday night. Jessica Hedges and Trinity Seely work on ranches and will be sharing their stories in an evening that is part of a month of events celebrating women in Bend. There will also be hor d’oeuvres and a no-host bar.

Recycled Percussion
March 21 | Tower Theatre, Bend | $22-$42

Recycled Percussion is a band unlike anything you’ve seen before. The “junk rock” group that appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2009 comes to Bend on Thursday night and puts on a wild performance using buckets and other street materials. Get tickets to see them at the Tower Theatre.

Guest Chef Dinner at The Suttle Lodge
March 23 | The Suttle Lodge, Sisters | $100

Throughout the year, The Suttle Lodge brings in some of the best chefs from the Pacific Northwest for a unique dining experience. This weekend, Fenrir owner and chef Ian Wilson will put on a dinner that features the mobile restaurant’s “micro-seasonality, fermentation sciences, and the unification of food history and food science.” Sommelier Tyler Hauptman will be there to pair the dishes with fine wines.

Live Music

Take your pick among the live music acts this weekend. Funk group Strive Roots will be at McMenamin’s Father Luke’s Room on Wednesday night. Mt. Bachelor’s Après Ski Bash will be held at Crow’s Feet Commons on Friday night with Yak Attack headlining. And Pacific Northwest rock group Brian O’Dell Band will be playing at the Belfry on Saturday night.

Weekend Roundup: March 13-17

Whether you’re in the mountains this weekend or hanging out around town, there’s a ton of great events happening around Bend this weekend.

No Man's Land Film Festival in Bend, Oregon 2019
Image courtesy of No Man’s Land Film Festival

Author! Author! Richard Russo
March 14 | Riverhouse Convention Center, Bend | $30

In the last installment of this season’s Author! Author! series from the Deschutes Public Library Foundation, novelist Richard Russo will take the stage. Known for his novels such as Empire Falls, which won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize, as well as Nobody’s Fool and That Old Cape Magic, Russo will talk about his writing and literature at the Riverhouse Convention Center.

No Man’s Land Film Festival
March 15 | Tower Theatre, Bend | $15

This all-female adventure film festival comes from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and is presented by BendFilm. There will be thirteen short films screened featuring women in pursuit of epic adventures in their sports. Ice climber Angela VanWiemeersch will be at the event that hopes to inspire and progress women in sports.

Subaru Winterfest
March 15-17 | Mt. Bachelor | Free

Subaru Winterfest is an annual party on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor.,There will be live music, giveaways, gear demos, snack and hot drinks at the base of West Village Lodge all weekend. After you’ve gotten your turns in for the day, stop by the event to relax and enjoy the après ski atmosphere.

Tumalo Art Co. Sale
March 16 | Old Mill District | Free

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, visit Tumalo Art Co. in Bend’s Old Mill District for a fine art sale. The eighth annual event will have a variety of items for purchase from local artists, including paintings, glass, jewelry and textiles. Support local artists and find great deals on one-of-a-kind local art.

Live Music

McMenamins Old St. Francis School has a full line-up of live music all weekend long to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Find favorite local bands and traditional Irish music at Father Luke’s Room and O’Kane’s Bar all day and night. And on Monday night, the Glasgow-based five-piece band Ímar will take the stage at the Sisters High School Auditorium to close out the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series.

What to Eat at 900 Wall This Season

Find a range of surprising flavors and heady libations at 900 Wall in Bend.

date night at 900 wall restaurant in Bend, Oregon
Tempura green beans. photo by alex jordan

At 900 Wall, with 180 seats, including a bar that stretches the length of the first of two levels, the experience can be as bubbly as a vintage champagne or low-key and intimate, depending on where you request to be and when you land there. Every spot, though, offers a place to share a range of surprising flavors and heady libations.

Try the tempura green beans with a classic aioli of egg yolk, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard and a dash of lemon. Sip a bright, sparkling Domaine Patrice Colin Pineau d’Aunis, with a spicy, crisp, light, fruity character.

Return from France to the Pacific Northwest, with six oysters along with six large, wild shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. They arrive on a two-tier stand of beds of crushed ice with lemon, mignonette and cocktail sauce.

Depending on the varieties of oysters that are freshest at the time, the taste may range from a sweet salinity to notes of clam, which Chef Cliff Eslinger recalls from growing up on the East Coast.

“The flavor profiles are broad,” he said. “The Olympias are almost like sucking on a penny, there’s such a potent mineral note.”

The white shrimp offer a sweetness and texture that are better than the many that Eslinger’s team has tried. “Side by side, there’s a stark difference,” he said, adding that in addition to taste, he supports sustainable agriculture whenever possible.

Sip a glass of Chateau de Breze brut rosé with it. Like your date or group of girlfriends, it may be pretty, pink and sparkling, but it also has a quiet strength. It’s dry, not sweet, with full, structured fruit and tannins—a perfect companion to the dish, particularly the shrimp, said Eric Adams, lead server.

The 2017 Arregi 2017 Txakolina (pronounced cha-co-leena) from Spain offers great acidity and minerality that ties into the oysters’ flavor profile.

“It is my favorite white wine, period,” said Adams. “I take it to sushi all the time. It’s lighter in alcohol, slightly sparkling, with an understated elegance that goes with oysters and delicate dishes such as ahi tuna or carpaccio. I can’t think of anything better.”

Smith Rock Is Not Just For Climbing

Most well known for climbing, Smith Rock State Park also has miles of singletrack for mountain bikers to enjoy in spring before the summer crowds arrive.

Spring Mountain biking at smith rock state park, oregon

This Pacific Northwest rock climbing mecca isn’t just a place to bag peaks. It’s also a lesser traveled mountain biking destination that welcomes pedalers with miles of singletrack. Ambitious adventurers can easily turn a day at Smith Rock State Park into a classic multi-sport day.

We started our ride at Skull Hollow Campground, riding along the singletrack switchbacks of Gray Butte, the tallest peak in the greater Smith Rock area. This pronounced butte hosts myriad epic climbs as well as grand scenery. We circumnavigated the entire feature. After reaching the base of the summit, we dismounted and scrambled up the final steep section of scree. Our ride culminated with a descent that provided plenty of burly thrills and fast shoots.

There are plenty of riding options at one of Oregon’s most photographed state parks. Take the classic Summit Loop, or link up with the Cole Trail that circumnavigates Gray Butte.

After Party: Wild Ride Brewing

Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond, Oregon

This family-friendly taproom in the heart of downtown has been a welcome addition to the Redmond scene. With the beautiful mountain peaks huddled in the distance, a 3 Sisters American Red Ale seemed the logical choice. I added a Yakisoba bowl from Shred Town, just one of the many food trucks Wild Ride has on site.

Women, Wilderness and Winter Whitewater

Three weeks in the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River among a company of adventurous Central Oregon women.

a women's rafting trip in grand canyon national park

“You don’t see many trips go out with more girls than boys.” That’s the on-the-spot assessment offered by Ranger Peggy upon surveying our female-centric crew that has arrived at Lee’s Ferry, the iconic starting point for Grand Canyon adventures.

Our rag tag crew of river rats, organic farmers and adventurers has a three-to-one ratio of girls to guys. We aren’t out to make a statement, but we are the exception. Forget what you might see in the latest Patagonia catalog, the gender participation gap is a persistent failure of the outdoor industry, especially when it comes to leadership and guiding. America’s greatest river is no exception. But it’s also changing.

Rising slowly and steadily like a spring flood measured not in days but decades, the number of women voyaging through the Grand Canyon has steadily increased since Major Wesley Powell made his pioneering voyage down the then unchartered river in 1869.

Central Oregon’s Sarahlee Lawrence is one of the women who has helped smash the river guide stereotype. She’s also the chief organizer and fearless leader of our ramshackle voyage, cobbled together on a cancelled permit (an alternative to entering the long-odds lottery that determines who gets to launch a boat for the three-week, 225-mile journey through the Grand Canyon). Without a lot of lead time, we departed in the low, cold light of November.

I’ve known Lawrence for years as a friend and colleague, which was enough to merit an invitation on her trip. I jumped at the chance to join the journey in part because of Lawrence, whose reputation as a top-notch boater was earned on rivers across multiple continents over a multi-decade guiding career. Lately, she’s largely traded her oars for the tools of organic farming that she employs at Rainshadow Organics, her family farm near Terrebonne. But even when Lawrence’s feet are firmly on the ground, her mind is never far from the river. Especially this river.

A Woman’s Place

a women's rafting trip in grand canyon national park
photo by k.m collins

Once the sole province of men, the Grand Canyon has been inching toward integration for more than half a century, when the last serious dam building initiatives were thwarted by conservationists. It was then the river as we now know it was enshrined as a permanent national resource and a premier destination for boaters and rafters.

In some ways the Colorado River has been out in front of the rest of the country when it comes to women’s equality. The infamous and beloved Georgie White was the first documented woman to row a boat through the Grand Canyon’s gauntlet of massive rapids. That was way back in 1952, before most American’s owned a television. By 1955 White had pioneered a new motorboat design for navigating the Canyon, which she did as commercial outfit owner until her death in 1992. By that time, she had become a Grand Canyon icon, enshrined in the lore of the river.

a women's rafting trip in grand canyon national park
photo by k.m collins

My own passion for whitewater was ignited by a love for river ecology and a desire to fit in at my day job at a local paddling shop. A relative late bloomer, I jumped into my river obsession just a few years ago. I was a devout practitioner and in return, rivers emerged as my greatest gurus, especially the ones flowing through Oregon.

The Metolius River had taught me to kayak in brutally cold water that felt like liquid ice. The John Day River enticed me to embark on a seventy-mile solo trip on a paddleboard. The Rogue, Owyhee and Grand Ronde rivers taught me how to tough out winter as a raft passenger on a multiday trip. And as a rookie, I learned plenty from our own desert river, the Deschutes, which like the Colorado has been tamed by dams, yet manages to retain a piece of its wild soul.

The Mighty Colorado

a women's rafting trip in grand canyon national park

Like other river devotees, I knew the ultimate goal lay beyond my home waters deep in a canyon that has captured America’s imagination like no other place in the world. For devout paddlers it isn’t a line item on the Bucket List. It is the Bucket.

Still nothing can quite prepare you for the immensity and the sheer grandeur of the Grand Canyon. And yet the Colorado River’s true wonders were in the mud cracks and dry washes. It was the scent of the mesquite and tamarisk; it was the swaying of the cottonwood, sedge and willow. The magic was in the freshly caught trout that Bridget shared around the campfire.

Inside the canyon, the familiar great blue heron, belted kingfisher, chukar and canyon wren offered us warm song on the coldest days. Here enveloped in the pink granite walls of the Inner George, the notion of time shrinks in the presence of place. Inside sentinels’ schist, conglomerate and limestone shepherd our route as precious day slips and fades into night, where we curl under a blanket of stars.

It’s a simple life, but it’s not an easy one. Running the Grand Canyon is an accomplishment, but it’s also a journey. After three weeks and countless rapids our voyage through time concluded with a few quiet oar strokes. I wondered what young women would follow in our wake. Will they still be an exception? Will they have to earn their spot on the river, or will they be welcomed as equals? Only time will tell.

Ride the Trails at Horse Butte and Horse Ridge This Spring

Be sure to visit this diverse trail system for mountain biking at Horse Ridge and Horse Butte in the spring before the summer dust descends.

On the east side of Bend, a mixture of rocky volcanic lava sediment and delicate sagebrush lines frame intermediate singletrack on both the Horse Butte and Horse Ridge trail systems, which share a name but not a trailhead. (Horse Butte sits on the east side of Bend, north of China Hat Road. Horse Ridge is located near the Badlands Wilderness Area south of Highway 20.) These spring riding havens have much in common and offered a midwinter reprieve for a few hearty cyclists emerging from hibernation.

Horse Butte offers various beginning trails and intermediate loop options consisting of ten to thirty miles of high desert panoramas. While we were investigating the trails, we also took some time to explore the expansive lava cave systems by headlamp just to change things up a bit.

From there it was on to Horse Ridge where we steered our bikes over slightly more technical lava rock terrain on our way to Crazy Horse loop. We linked up with the Parkway trail and took a fast and winding descent through the Horse Ridge Research Natural Area where the trail began to open, and the rolling desert hills welcomed us with stunning wildland vistas.

Updated 3/18/2020

Three Local Innovators Pioneered A New Gallery Model

In 2017, Jenny Green, René Mitchell and Kaari Vaughn opened At Liberty Arts Collaborative in downtown Bend in the 102-year-old historic Liberty Theater.

Ladies of At Liberty Arts Creative in Bend, Oregon
Jenny Green, René Mitchell and Kaari Vaughn. Photo by Marisa Chappell Hossick

The At Liberty Arts Collaborative was created through pooled resources and the expertise of three working moms for the betterment of their community. You might call it a 21st century DIY art patronage.

In 2017, Jenny Green, René Mitchell and Kaari Vaughn opened At Liberty Arts Collaborative in downtown Bend in the 102-year-old historic Liberty Theater. Their mission is to showcase contemporary art and also make a home for creative nonprofit organizations and a community gathering place. They call themselves the Ladies of Liberty, and each brings impressive credentials to the task. It’s their first project together, but it’s just the latest in a long list of contributions that each have made to bolster Central Oregon’s growing creative economy.

Mitchell was a Bend Design Conference founder and sits on the boards of Caldera, Art in Public Places and ScaleHouse. Green was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to the Oregon Arts Commission, is a board member of World Muse and a member of Bend Cultural Tourism Fund. Vaughn is a longtime volunteer and former board member of BendFilm and the former manager of the Liberty Theater.

The business LLC they formed to run the renovated space was born of friendship, a passion for art and mutual admiration for one another. It followed years of talk about the possibility of opening an art gallery.

“There was a lot of art in Central Oregon, but we were all wishing there was more,” Green recalled. “We had the same dream, but we’re three mothers who are very involved in the community. The thought of doing it individually wasn’t possible. The only way to do it was to come together.”

Mitchell had collaborated closely with Vaughn on Bend Design and BendFilm events that were held at the Liberty. She also envisioned a space for ScaleHouse and other organizations that sought a physical presence in downtown Bend.

The partners have four revenue streams to support the mission: venue rental, sales from artwork, collaboration from nonprofit groups that sublease space and a small gift shop.

“I feel like it’s a more modern concept to have a space that is flexible in terms of its mission,” Green said. “We are a serious contemporary art venue as well as a collaborative working space and an events venue. We aim to be a gathering space where people can come together to enjoy themselves and their community, to experience and see new ideas, and to work together to continue to lift the arts in Bend.”

The partners curate six art exhibitions a year with each show running for about two months. At Liberty is open to the public, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

Liliana Cabrera On Building a Healthy Community

Liliana Cabrera is Central Oregon’s advocate for women’s access to reproductive healthcare.

Liliana Cabrera of Bend, Oregon
photo by marisa chappell hossick

Liliana Cabrera began working for Planned Parenthood more than ten years ago and brought a wealth of knowledge and experience with her when she took the position of Community Education and Outreach Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central Oregon. In the four years Cabrera has lived here, she has become an integral voice and advocate for access to women’s reproductive healthcare in our community.

As a Latina and openly gay woman, Cabrera is a natural conversation starter in a community sorely lacking diversity. She brings her unique perspective to everything she does, including serving as board chair of Let’s Talk Diversity Coalition in Madras, president of Latino Community Association and as a board member at-large of OUT Central Oregon.

Arriving in Bend

I moved from Salinas, California to Central Oregon in 2015 to work at Planned Parenthood. My partner’s family lives in Portland, and I was looking for work in Oregon. The main [Planned Parenthood] office is in Portland, but the job was in Bend. I had never heard of Bend. When I came for my interview, I looked around at what the town looked like and it looked very similar to what Salinas looked like when I was growing up. So I enjoy the small rural aspect of it, but I didn’t realize the cultural difference and lack of diversity.

Getting Started

My work in the past has looked very different than it does now. I was in classrooms talking to kids. We had a teen pregnancy program and so that was a space where I was working with pregnant and parenting teen moms. I held conversations with middle school girls and went into the juvenile halls. There are no [teen support] programs here. There haven’t been any programs. My approach has been going out listening, learning what people want to know. Really seeing what people are saying we need to have and then responding to that within my capacity.

Roadblocks and Resistance

I see through my own lens the issues here, and I hear what other people tell me. I am also very aware of who is telling what story. I am hearing things like, “Well, there are other people already doing that work, so we don’t need Planned Parenthood in the schools.” So, okay. They are getting some education, but there is limited access to resources for high school students. We have to be invited in, so we don’t always hear about what is going on unless someone says something about it and reports it.

On Access to Information

If parents say they want to talk to their kids about sex, but they’re not doing it, how can I help them to be more confident to have that conversation? They need to hear us. I think all young people should have access to the information [about sex and sexuality] and hear it from different voices, in particular the people that look like them. If there are students of color in those classrooms, I want to be in front of them talking very openly about this topic. A healthy community is one where people can access the things they need, and it is not a struggle. A healthy community is where people have the information and it’s not being withheld because of someone else’s own personal beliefs. Everybody should have what they need when they need it.

On Being Yourself

Being a queer woman of color who wants to see this world, this community, flourish and grow in a healthy way and having some part of it is me seeking my community. All of these different places where I work is because they are all part of who I am. We are all human beings and we are all in the struggle together, and we are all facing different [challenges]. At the end of the day, we have to live in the community together. We have to look at each other as people who are all going through different things.

Amy Tykeson On Building Lasting Legacies

Amy Tykeson has a long legacy in Central Oregon, where she was the former CEO of BendBroadband. In 2018, she was named Bend’s “Person of the Year.”

Bend Broadband's Amy Tykeson a leader in Bend, Oregon
photo by marisa chappell hossick

Amy Tykeson is the former CEO of BendBroadband, where she guided the company into a new era of digital technology and community partnerships. Tykeson is currently the managing trustee of the Tykeson Family Foundation, supporting education and healthcare in Oregon. She has served on numerous boards for nonprofits, startups and higher education initiatives in Central Oregon. Among other recognitions, Tykeson was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2013 and was awarded “Person of the Year” by the Bend Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

Your career spanned many facets of the telecommunications industry. Can you identify one thread that kept you inspired?

I like solving complex problems, and I get a lot of energy from being around smart people. When I started in the 1980s, the industry was exploding, and we had a ball making it happen. At HBO, I couldn’t imagine another environment as fun or interesting. But working in operations at Bend Cable was fascinating. Working with innovative people who transform problems into positive change—that inspires me. Like many of my peers, I got involved in the Women In Cable organization, which allowed me to experience leadership and expand my skills. Similar groups can be found in most industries, with valuable opportunities for young professionals to flex their business muscles.

Learning to flex business muscles is great advice. What other suggestions would you offer young women launching their careers?

Most importantly, gain as many experiences as possible. Flex your muscles through volunteering, and build your portfolio of skills both within your organization and in the community. Second, develop the habit of thinking ahead. Plan how to navigate the waters before you present new ideas, and prepare answers to objections you might encounter. A pre-mortem, in effect! Then do a post-mortem to develop a game plan for your next goal. Finally, support other women. For example, in meetings when one person’s ideas are ignored or restated by another, be sure to give credit where it’s due. Also, feedback is critical. Ask for it, and ask permission to give it. That’s not always easy.

Do you feel that young women have a different toolbox of skills today?

I see more independence and self-reliance today, maybe because they’ve seen more role models. There’s a greater ability to speak up and share one’s opinion. Young men, too, now grow up seeing women as vital to the economy and the community.

Your father left a legacy of philanthropy, and you’ve continued that tradition. How does supporting community fit into your definition of a good life?

My dad always said it’s incumbent upon us to be good stewards, and I subscribe to that. Every one of us can give back with talents, time or financial resources. It’s part of being a whole person to reach beyond our own little bubble, nurture good works that help people thrive and improve the environment for future generations. I feel fortunate to work on projects that strengthen our community. In particular, I appreciate organizations that bring together different voices—many nature conservation groups follow that model. I also admire the Bend Science Station’s approach to getting more science in front of kids and teachers. And I’m very excited about developments at OPB as we approach the 100th anniversary!

What else are you thinking about now?

I’m still asking myself how to best use my time and gifts. Our young people need adaptability and resiliency, in order to flourish in the future. How do we instill the tools to cope through tough waters? I don’t have the answers, but I want to sharpen the saw and augment the impact I can have on our many needs. On a personal side, I’m thinking about establishing new family traditions. I relished the shared experiences my parents created these past decades. As our family’s elders pass on, it’s now our privilege and our priority to build on the delight that comes from spending time with those who matter most.

Sylvana Yelda Still Gets to Look at the Stars

Sylvana Yelda is a data scientist for Kollective in Bend, volunteers with ChickTech and gets to run the telescope at Worthy’s Hopservatory.

Sylvana Yelda data scientist in Bend, Oregon
photo by marisa chappell hossick

In 1979, Sylvana Yelda’s parents moved from Iraq to Michigan. Sylvana, their fourth child, arrived a year later, the first of their family born in the United States. Her father had only graduated high school; her mother had left school at an early age to care for family.

From an early age, Yelda showed a strong aptitude for school—especially for science. A high school astronomy course set her off and running on what would be an epic academic journey. “I loved astronomy,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “It was so fun and challenging.”

After astronomy, Yelda fell in love with psychology and the study of the brain and perception, and earned a BA in psychology from the University of Michigan. She began a master’s degree program in that field before returning to astronomy, earning a MS in astrophysics and a PhD in astrophysics from UCLA. “I went to college for fourteen years,” Yelda said, quickly adding, “but I loved it.”

She considered a career in academia, but professorial positions are highly competitive—and besides, she explained, collegiate teaching means delegating data research to graduate students. “I like doing it myself. I like digging in the data,” she explained.

Digging in the data is what she does every day in her current position as a senior data scientist at Kollective, a technology company located on Bend’s westside. Data scientists must possess a variety of skills, she explained, from hard science to storytelling.

“You must understand statistics, computer programming and machine learning,” Yelda said. “You must be able to visualize the data, get it into a form that will answer your questions, and then interpret it and relay it to your audience.”

Yelda said she loves her job, but still, she misses teaching, and finds ways to incorporate public outreach into her life. “I volunteer with ChickTech, a national organization with a mission to get girls interested in STEM,” she said.

Last fall, she led female high school students through a two-day workshop on how to code and program a machine learning model, using the data set from the sinking of the Titanic.

“They predicted with eighty percent accuracy who was more likely to die based on their location on the ship, gender and class,” she said. “It’s a little bit dark, but they really got into it.”

Working as a data scientist also means Sylvana has taken a sidestep from astronomy, but a serendipitous event occurred not long after her move to Bend three years ago—Worthy Brewing opened its Hopservatory.

“I run the telescope there on a volunteer basis,” said Yelda. “That means I still get to look at the stars.”

An Adventurous Meal at Bend’s Bos Taurus

The vibe at Bos Taurus—classic steakhouse, updated and seared with Bend style—means quality without stuffiness, and a beefy dose of fun. Go decadent with the foie gras terrine and move on to the wagyu.

Foie gras for date night at Bos Taurus restaurant in Bend, Oregon
Hudson Valley Foie gras terrine. Photo by ALex Jordan

Chef George Morris’ take on a foie gras terrine is a perfect example. He sous vide cooks Hudson Valley foie gras, vacuum sealing it in a pouch, immersing it in precisely heated water. The duck delicacy never touches a heated metal pan, flames, steam, water or smoke, thereby achieving optimum flavor and texture. Combined with cream, gelatin, salt and a bit of sugar, it’s set in a French terrine mold overnight.

The sublimely smooth, rich result is dusted with crumbled pistachios and watercress powder. The counterpoint is Oregon Coast cranberries three ways: a cranberry gastrique, sous vide cranberry and cranberry maple pudding. It’s framed by watercress petals, and grilled sourdough is the crunchy vehicle for it all. Morris sets the dish beneath a glass dome filled with maplewood smoke—the foie gras smokes en route from the kitchen to you.

“When you get it to the table, you can’t actually see the dish,” said Morris. Lifting the dome, a veil of smoke wafts away, revealing it. The aroma is the first part of the experience, building anticipation of the first savory, sweet, crunchy bite.

Morris pairs it with the Tonic 2 Old Fashioned, with Bulleit Rye, Tonic 2 (Tahitian vanilla, chamomile, maple syrup) and Angostura orange bitters. The orange complements the dish’s cranberry. The rye and foie gras share flavor profiles. Both have as an ingredient Noble barrel aged maple syrup.

“The high-octane alcohol and whiskey background cuts through the richness of the foie gras, cleaning up and lightening the palate, and the foie gras’ richness mellows out and softens the drink,” he said.

Another big experience on a small plate is the Japanese Miyazaki A5 wagyu beef raised in the Japan’s Miyazaki prefecture. It’s renowned worldwide for its fat marbling, tenderness and flavor. Morris seasons it with hickory-smoked sea salt and black, white, pink and green peppercorns, searing it on a 550°F cast iron flattop custom stove to medium-rare. It’s sliced kimono-silk thin, so delicate that it is plated and served with elegantly shaped seven-and-a-half-inch culinary tweezers. “It literally melts in your mouth,” said Morris.

A big cabernet with bold fruit and strong tannins stands up to the luxurious fat of the beef, and General Manager David Oliver recommends the 2015 Paul Hobbs CrossBarn from Napa Valley.

How Triathlete Heather Jackson Bounced Back

Bend’s star triathlete Heather Jackson on bouncing back from disappointment and cranking up the speed.

Triathlete Heather Jackson in Bend, Oregon
photo by wattie ink

After finishing third, fourth and fifth among pro women between 2015 and 2017 at the Ironman World Championships, Heather Jackson was considered a favorite this past fall to do what no American woman has done at the Kona race in more than twenty years—win.

The Bend pro would finish a disappointing fourteenth, the result she said of overtraining and insufficient rest in the lead-up to the October championship.

Frustrated, she returned home to Bend to re-group.

“I didn’t want to end 2018 like that,” recalled the 34-year-old Jackson. “I needed to redeem myself.”

So five weeks later, Jackson lined up at Ironman Arizona. She went on to win with a blistering time of eight hours, thirty-nine minutes, setting a new best Ironman time for American women, and shattering her own personal record by more than twenty minutes.

With the victory, Jackson punched her ticket to the 2019 Kona championship, and, now in her tenth season, is more determined than ever to leave her mark there.

The Road to Bend

A standout youth hockey player from New England, Jackson was star and captain of the Princeton women’s hockey team when she was invited to try out for, but narrowly missed, landing a spot on the 2006 Olympic squad. After graduation, she moved to Southern California and took up cycling, where her strong skating legs were an asset. Swimming, however, proved more difficult.

“I was a rock in the pool,” she said.

Despite this, less than two years after entering her first event, Jackson quit her teaching job to take up triathlon full-time. She and her husband Sean “Wattie” Watkins moved to Bend three years later.

On paper, Bend may not seem like ideal training ground for pro triathletes, given that winters here aren’t ideal for cycling and running. But Jackson disagrees, citing an ideal altitude for training, extensive running trails and a devoted community of Masters swimmers.

Although Bend’s triathlon scene may be relatively small, three of the country’s top pros, Jackson, Linsey Corbin and Jesse Thomas, all live and train here.

‘Crazy Hilly Hard’

Triathlete Heather Jackson in Bend, oregon
photo by wattie ink

A doppelganger of the rockstar Pink—complete with the cropped platinum hair, extensive body ink, and tight, compact frame—Jackson is drawn to the sport’s toughest courses.

She’s amassed five Ironman wins, including Coeur d’Alene and Lake Placid, where she holds the course record among women, and will be gunning for her fifth Wildflower victory this spring, a race known for its gut-checking hilly terrain.

“Crazy hilly hard” is the phrase Jackson uses to describe her favorite events, those that allow her compact powerful frame and gritty determination to shine.

Focusing Inward

An extreme competitor all her life, Jackson said her attitude has matured over the past decade. Early in her career, she’d be in tears if she missed a training goal, and felt fiercely competitive toward her fellow racers.

“I’d line up and think ‘I’m going to beat all these girls,’” she recalled. “It’s weird how it shifts. I still want to beat everyone, but not in an aggressive, angry competitor sort of way.”

Over the years, Jackson’s learned to bring her focus inward and give herself some grace if a training session or race doesn’t go exactly as planned.

“If I’m in the middle of a session, and I’m not close to the splits, I’ll just jog home,” she explained. “I don’t bash my head against the wall anymore. In time you learn what makes you able to go the hardest. And it might not be on the day your coach put it on your training schedule.

“I used to think I had to do more than everyone else,” she continued. “But it’s not like that anymore. It’s more about how I can get the best out of myself.”

Looking Ahead

Triathlete Heather Jackson in Bend, Oregon
photo by wattie ink

Along with the Ironman World Championships in October, look for Jackson to try to four-peat at Ironman Chattanooga in May and attempt her fifth win at Wildflower—both of which are half-ironman distances.

By racing only shorter distances and shifting her training schedule up in this year, Jackson hopes to enter Kona fresh and ready to compete for a spot on the podium.

Lora Haddock is Tackling Gender Bias in Tech

A public snub turns into marketing gold for Lora DiCarlo, a sex-tech startup in Bend.

Lora DiCarlo sex-tech startup in Bend, Oregon
Lora Haddock

Lora Haddock, founder of Bend-based robotic sex toy startup Lora DiCarlo, has an uncanny knack for making what seem like taboo topics—orgasms, anatomy, sex devices—a comfortable part of regular conversation. That skill came in especially handy earlier this year, when Haddock’s startup went viral.

Lora DiCarlo got the world’s attention in January when the company revealed they’d received a prestigious robotics innovation award from the Consumer Electronics Show, only to have it taken away a month later after the conference organizers deemed the product obscene. At issue: The startup’s handsfree, vagina-focused device for blended orgasms.

Haddock penned an open letter that took off on social media and prompted national news coverage, saying that rescinding the award illustrated a gender double standard for the long-standing tech event. Everyone from the New York Times to TechCrunch to Glamour Magazine picked up the story.

While losing the award was disappointing to Haddock and her team, she notes that the viral moment provided a silver lining—an outpouring of support for her product and company from around the world.

“That was gratifying,” she said. “It’s not just about the product, but about a shift in society and promoting change toward sex positivity for women and non-gender conforming people.”

An Engineering Problem

Lora DiCarlo sex-tech startup in Bend, Oregon
Dr. Ada-Rhodes Short working on Osé in CAD.

Haddock was 28 when she had what she calls the holy grail of orgasms—a blended orgasm. “It kind of landed me on the ground, and I was like, ‘How can I do that again?’ ” The question stuck with her, and she eventually left her job in healthcare with the intention of creating a device that could replicate the perfect orgasm.

“There’s no product on the market that speaks to female physiology and vaginal physiology,” Haddock said.

Coming from a long line of engineers, she began by getting better anatomical data—asking people to measure different aspects of their vaginas—so she could develop a device that could fit a multitude of bodies.

Then in 2017, Haddock reached out to John Parmigiani, head of Oregon State University’s Prototype Development Laboratory. Haddock arrived for the meeting with not just a host of market measurements, but also a list of fifty-two functional engineering requirements.

“It was a very well-posed mechanical engineering problem,” Parmigiani told the Bend Bulletin.

The Business of Pleasure

Lora DiCarlo sex-tech startup in Bend, Oregon
Recognition and rebuff at CES

Haddock created a team of student and professional engineers at the OSU Corvallis campus, and they built the first device, called Osé, within a year. The feedback from young women engineering students who worked with the company stuck with Haddock.

“They said that they’d never had female role models before and now they have many,” she said. “That’s the kind of company I want to build.”

And she’s well en route. The startup’s staff is mostly women, and includes a doctoral student in mechanical engineering and another engineer with a Ph.D in AI and robotics. Their flagship product, Osé, is already subject to several robotics-related patent applications.

With $1.1 million in funding, Lora DiCarlo is readying to manufacture and have the device for sale by year’s end. In the meantime, Haddock will continue to speak out about the taboo around female sexuality.

“This is about human needs, being sex positive, and having an honest conversation about our bodies and something that is part of our everyday lives.”

Tammy Baney Blazed a Trail Through Bend’s Old Boy’s Club

An interview with Tammy Baney, who is deeply involved in Central Oregon’s community through public service, including serving as a Deschutes County Commissioner for over a decade and currently as the director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council.

photo by marisa chappell hossick

Tammy Baney was raised in rural Bend in a tightly knit family of do-ers, known for lending a hand to friends and neighbors. With an instinct for leaning in and a heart for community involvement/support, she ran and was elected as a Deschutes County Commissioner in 2006, at age 34. She served as commissioner from 2007-2018, with a focus on transportation, housing and health. Baney currently serves as director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, where she heads cooperative projects in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. She continues as chairperson of the Oregon Transportation Commission and as board chair for the Central Oregon Health Council.

As a young woman starting a career in the ’90s, what were some of the challenges you faced?

I began at a local golf course and started moving into management, learning as I moved forward. Sexual harassment was rampant in those days. After one incident I was offered a payout, which meant leaving my job, keeping my salary and health insurance, but not fighting the harassment. At that time, I made a practical choice. It gave me the financial ability to move forward and get my realtor’s license. Today, we have more choices and we know more about our responsibility to address harassment. Yet I still relate to women who have not felt safe speaking up, and I know how fear makes us pick our battles carefully.

As you moved into public service as a county commissioner, did your voice differ from those of your colleagues?

I was a single mom, managing childcare and homework help, while working with male colleagues of my father’s generation. My voice was definitely different. Not better or more powerful, but often more inclusive. I believe how we do things matters as much as what we do. My colleagues joked about “the niceties” of recognizing and listening to others, but they also acknowledged the importance of being approachable.

At first, I’d often be called out mid-discussion with questions intended to check my understanding of issues and policies. In a backhanded way, it made me a better commissioner because I learned to clearly support my positions, especially on controversial votes. I had to gain the confidence to say, “I’ll get back to you on that,” knowing I could find the answers. I still experience occasional “mansplaining,” but gone are the days when I question myself about whether I communicated my thoughts clearly. I find humor to be the best tool to deal with that.

Over the course of your career, how have you seen gender equality evolve—for both women and men?

My daughter doesn’t see the barriers that I saw. We’ve made great strides, but we still have women who fear being seen—[women] who believe they are not enough. At the same time, I don’t believe the generation of men before me wants to minimize women. Inclusiveness is not yet in their wheelhouse, but it can be learned. We have the opportunity to redefine boundaries and roles and expand what each person can bring to society.

What advice would you give to young women interested in public service?

When I first ran for office, I did not know my value. I questioned most aspects of my life, but I wanted to serve. No one said, “Tammy, you should run for office!” I didn’t wait to be invited. If you feel in your heart that you want to serve in this capacity, do it. First, check your core—is it just one issue you want to work on? Public service is about many issues, and about the people.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role at the COIC?

As a council of governments, we have a unique ability to tackle regional issues such as affordable home ownership. Our communities have crossover, yet projects compete for funds. I want to convene our collective voices to identify the gaps, communicate our needs to the state, and elevate the region as a whole.

Foley Waters Trail Is A Moderate Hike With Great Wildlife Viewing

Foley Waters Trail is a moderate hike that is great for families in the spring who want to find great sightings of wildlife.

Photo by Alex Jordan

If you’re looking for a true high desert experience, take the short drive to Crooked River Ranch, a sprawling rural residential community perched on an elevated peninsula between the Deschutes and Crooked rivers. There’s plenty to see here, but you have to know where to look. For those willing to search, no less than half a dozen spectacular hikes await.

A hike less traveled is the Foley Waters Trailhead, one of several hikes that leads trekkers deep into the belly of a river gorge carved out of rock that tells the dramatic geologic history of our region. Located just south of the ever-popular Steelhead Falls Trailhead, this popular fly fishing destination also makes a fantastic scenic tour.

If you stick to the Foley Waters Trailhead, you will travel about one-and-a-half miles. But if you are looking to explore further, there are miles and miles of additional pathways leading to rocky crevices and breathtaking views.

Although these hikes are familiar for even the novice hiker amongst us, I encourage you to revisit them annually, if not seasonally. Try see if you can see new things with fresh eyes. Consider this hike through the eyes of a naturalist. Read the landscape, study the wildlife and look for change. And always, enjoy your time in nature.

Spring Wildlife Scavenger Hunt

spring hiking bend, oregon

During your river canyon exploration, see if you can find these four common sights:

Horsetail: Named for its obvious likeness to a certain mammal’s tail, this plant can be found in riparian areas among the river shoreline.

Bald Eagle: The trick to this commonly found raptor is in the fact that it doesn’t get it’s full-white plumed head until maturity of near five years of age.

Golden Stonefly: The spring stonefly hatch is a legendary event on the lower Deschutes River when these oversized insects take clumsily to the air, setting off a trout feeding frenzy.

Big Sagebrush: Widespread in the high desert region, and highly fragrant in spring bloom.

There’s Plenty to See on an Early Spring Hike to Benham Falls

The six-mile hike from on the upper Deschutes River has a wealth of wildlife on display in early spring.

Spring hiking Benham falls bend, oregon

If you’re used to driving into Benham Falls from Century Drive or the Lava Lands Visitor Center, try walking into it from the south at Sunriver.

This out-and-back hike of about six miles is surprisingly variable. It starts out on the forest road in Sunriver and ends at the dramatic chute falls on the upper Deschutes River. The route is well traveled and clearly marked with virtually no chance of getting lost in the wilderness.

But with the variation of wildlife to be found, matched with breadth of changing landscape, this low-level hike ends up making the perfect trip for even the experienced trekker. It’s also one of the first areas outside Bend to really show signs of the emerging spring. With the wealth of habitat in the surrounding forest and adjacent river, nature is on full display.

Spring Wildlife Scavenger Hunt

Spring hiking scavenger hunt in bend, oregon

If you head out at the right time, you can make a sort of game out of the trek, a scavenger hunt of sorts. See if you and your fellow hikers can find the following:

Redwinged Blackbirds: These birds will spend most of their time on cattails and tall grass in riparian zones along the river. They have a distinct whistle that is a sure sign of spring in Central Oregon.

Belding’s Ground Squirrel: Often mistaken for “prairie dogs,” these small brown rodents can be found poking their heads out from small burrows in the ground.

Oregon Grape: Part of the holly family and Oregon’s official state flower, the Oregon grape has spiny, waxy leaves and bright-yellow flowers. This plant makes a great indicator for spring, as it tends to bloom earlier than most plants in Central Oregon.

Greenleaf Manzanita: Identified by their red-brown and twisted branches, these fire-dependent shrubs are often found near areas of recent burns.

David Sowards-Emmerd Brings Modern Approach to Forging

Renaissance man David Sowards-Emmerd is a physicist, blacksmith and a recovering reality TV competitor.

David Sowards Emmerd Blacksmith in Bend, Oregon

On a cold winter day in his barn, David Sowards-Emmerd pulls on leather gloves and grabs iron tongs to extract orange-hot metal from his backyard blacksmithing forge. A pair of yellow labs pay scant attention to this bit of daily alchemy that goes on around here as ordinary hunks of metal become extraordinary objects of beauty and usefulness.

That transformation of steel into Damascus knives worthy of a king and an Instagram post in 2017 earned Sowards-Emmerd a spot on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” series. He traveled to Stamford, Connecticut, to appear twice on the show, the first time competing as one of four bladesmiths tasked with making a slasher blade suitable for a horror movie. Each contestant selected a hunk of steel from a smoking cauldron and had three hours in which to complete the project.

Sowards-Emmerd turned his steel into a campfire chopper blade but when he put the it in a vice and cranked down, the blade unexpectedly broke into three pieces. The failed stress test essentially eliminated him from the winner’s circle. He returned to the show a second time but came up short in the show’s “Project Runway”-style round of judging.

“Forging on the show was a great experience,” he said. “I work well under pressure, and I think it showed that I love what I do and was able to stay relaxed in that chaotic environment.” He adds that on his second appearance that aired in February, he was able to show that his Damascus would hold up to J. Neilson, a renowned knife maker and one of the show’s most demanding judges, “beating the hell out of it.”

He notes that the other contestants were like family. “We’re all just focused on making the best blade we can and helping each other out along the way. I still keep in touch with folks from both episodes. The [show] tends to throw a wrench in it, and that’s where the drama comes from.”

David Sowards Emmerd Blacksmith in Bend, Oregon

Sowards-Emmerd is happy to explain the ins and outs of this ancient art that dates to the Iron Age. He rattles off terms such as forging temperatures (thousands of degrees), quenching (rapid cooling), thermal cycling (heating and cooling), buffing (shining and sharpening), grinding, punching (hole creation) and many other factors to produce knives, bottle openers and other objects from steel. His blacksmithing barn on ten acres east of Bend is replete with hammers, tongs, anvils, propane and coke-fueled forges, a hydraulic metal press, scrap metals and propane tanks.

The tools may be straight out of the Middle Ages, but Sowards-Emmerd brings a 21st century approach to the trade. He earned a PhD in physics from Stanford University and thought he’d live the life of an academic. He taught astronomy at City College of San Francisco starting in 2005 but after two years, accepted a position at Phillips Medical Systems North America in the Bay Area.

“I worked in CT and nuclear medicine, and instead of studying signals from distant galaxies, I designed medical devices that help diagnose and treat cancer and heart disease,” he said. When the company closed its California office in 2012, Sowards-Emmerd worked remotely for several years rather than move to Cleveland. But working remotely took him away from his lab and the hands on aspect of his work. He began forging in 2012, which he said, “kept me sane after sitting in front of a computer all day.”

He and his wife, Rebecca, moved to Bend in 2016 where they bought a farm that provided space to expand his forging business. He continued to work remotely until 2018 when the company completed its final round of layoffs. Untethered from the corporate world, Sowards-Emmerd could turn his love of blacksmithing into a full-time job.

David Sowards Emmerd Blacksmith in Bend, Oregon

“David has an enormous capacity to learn and absorb things,” wife Rebecca said. “He puts a lot of time into experimenting with different patterns and exploring the artistic parts of Damascus. You can see the quality when you can pick up an item and hold it in person.”

Sowards-Emmerds coaxes unique and beautiful patterns from his steel through techniques, such as stacking and layering, twisting, hammering and etching. He sells his blades and bottle openers online on Etsy and in knife-related forums, by word of mouth or on his website, drunkenmarmotforge.com. Buyers include campers, hikers and bushcrafters, and they pay between from $50 to $1,500 for bottle openers and knives.

“People are afraid to use high-end knives, but my goal is to convince folks that well-made Damascus tools will hold up to many lifetimes of regular use,” he said. “[Bladesmithing] isn’t my retirement job, it’s my forever job. It’s fun and challenging and it gives you the satisfaction of making something.”

The Historic Home of Lilly Dairy is Slated for Demolition

The historic home of Lilly Dairy owners Lillian and Nels Anderson is at the intersection of future developments in Bend.

Historic Nels Anderson Dairy in Bend, Oregon
photo courtesy deschutes historical museum

There is a constant din at the office of Instant Landscaping on Nels Anderson Road. Cars and trucks buzz by on the Bend Parkway just a hundred yards from the building. In the background, the Cascade Village Mall fills the view.

The area has been referred to as Bend’s “Golden Triangle” for its development potential at the intersection of the area’s two major highways, 20 and 97. Standing in the way of progress is the remains of what was once the largest dairy farm in Bend, Lilly Dairy, a 350-acre operation run by Lillian and Nels Anderson during Bend’s first boom in the early 20th century.

Their home still stands, as a historic landmark, but it’s an endangered one, according to owner Tim Larocco who operates his landscaping business out of the property. Larocco personally renovated the property after he acquired it in 1999. He said, however, that the home has been slated for demolition by the Oregon Department of Transportation as part of a highway realignment project. The agency has offered $30,000 to help with relocation, a fraction of what Larocco says is the actual cost. While the home’s future is still unclear, its history is deeply entwined with the story of Bend.

The Lilly Dairy era was a time when shopping local wasn’t just a slogan. And the Lilly Dairy farm was one of many small dairy farms in Central Oregon supplying milk and butter to Bend’s growing population.

Like many immigrants of that era, Anderson traveled a long and winding road to Bend. Anderson was born in 1879 in the community of Sall in the Danish Jutland region. The area is known for dairying and progressive farmers who instituted the dairy cooperative.

Nels Anderson Dairy
Processing cheese at the old bend dairy. photo courtesy deschutes historical museum

At 25 years old, Anderson joined the many thousands of Scandinavians who emigrated to the United States. He stepped off the boat at Ellis Island in 1904. His first job also entailed working around animals, but not in the way he expected.

“Nels shoveled manure in the streets of New York,” said Carol Willard, who knew the Andersons in the 1950s, long after they sold the farm in Bend.

Eventually Anderson moved to Bend in the early 1910s and married Kansas-born Lillian Daniels on August 25, 1914. During the following years, the entrepreneurial couple created a 350-acre dairy operation at the north end of Bend. Lilly Dairy was one of ten dairies that produced milk and butter for the local market, which relied on regional producers to provide products with short shelf lives.

“It was hard work,” said Sharon Rosengarth. Her parents, Jim and Virginia Matson, sharecropped the Dean Hollinshead farm during the same time Lilly Dairy was operating. “You didn’t go anywhere,” said Rosengarth. “You had to milk the cows in the morning and in the evening.”

In many ways the Lilly Farm more closely resembled it’s 19th century predecessors than its 21st century successors. Without electricity, the cows had to be milked by hand. Employees were served a communal meal at the Anderson’s home during their lunch break, said Larocco.

In 1929, the Andersons built a new home. An English Tudor-styled building, the home was as much theirs as the employees who worked at the farm. Rosengarth remembers the Lilly Dairy and the large barns on the property.

Nels Anderson Dairy in Bend, Oregon
the andersons celebrating the holidays at home in bend.

“With that much acreage, the Anderson’s could easily have accommodated 100 to 150 heads of cows,” he said.

The Andersons looked out for more than just their extended family of workers. They were the go-to couple if a young person was homeless.

“The Andersons lost a baby during the 1930s,” said Willard. The couple never reproduced the pregnancy. But the home was not without love. They would make a family.

“One day there was a knock on the door. A young gal had heard about the couple and was wondering if she could stay with them. They adopted the gal and raised her,” said Larocco, who has spent time researching the Anderson’s lives while renovating and restoring the Anderson’s historic residence.

He credits Michael Houser, former Deschutes County Historic Preservation Planner, for inspiring him to take on the renovation of the Anderson House. “We weren’t sure the house could be saved, but after hearing about the rich history, it was a no-brainer,” Larocco said.

The yearlong project saw Larocco and his crew stripping everything to the studs inside and renovating the outside stucco.

“The one thing solid about the house was the timber, which came from the local Brooks-Scanlon mill.”

KOR Land Trust Pioneers a New Affordable Housing Model in Bend

In Central Oregon, KOR Community Land Trust found a new way to offer affordable housing to working families.

KOR land trust affordable housing in Bend, Oregon

 

Two decades in Oregon as a service industry worker and a contractor taught Amy Warren that the housing market in Central Oregon is nothing if not volatile. But after watching another run-up in housing prices over the past decade, she knew one thing was guaranteed: many potential buyers will continue to be priced out of home ownership.

It’s the reason why Warren, after finishing a degree in Energy Systems Engineering at OSU-Cascades, decided to get back into the construction business as a different kind of developer. Warren and longtime friend Jason Offutt formed KOR Community Land Trust in 2015, with the goal of building low-energy homes using a model that emphasized shared resources, beginning with the land under the homes.

Warren said she and Offutt, who owns Shelter Studio, a local residential design firm, developed the idea after she studied net-zero homes in a class at OSU-Cascades. Warren said she was struck by the idea that we could meet our growing needs as a society by reducing our ecological footprint as individuals.

“That really spoke to me. That as opposed to learning how to make more, we should learn how to consume less,” Warren said.

She and Offutt discussed the idea over a pint. He also liked the net-zero concept, but was adamant that any project they undertook would have to place a premium on affordability. But with land prices rising quickly in Bend, the pair faced an immediate hurdle: how to avoid passing on that cost to buyers.

Amy Warren KOR Land Trust in Bend, Oregon
Amy Warren on KOR’s first piece of land

A little research turned up models in Portland and Orcas Island in Puget Sound that had tackled the same problem in those communities with a community land trust. While many are familiar with the land trust concept when it comes to conservation, land trusts are a relatively new idea in housing. The underlying principle is similar, with the big caveat that one model usually prevents all forms of development while the other facilitates it.

Like a traditional land trust, where the property is held in perpetuity by a nonprofit board, the job of a community land trust is to find and acquire land. The trust works with a developer or other partners to build housing that is sold below market rate. Unlike other affordable housing models, the buyer acquires only the home. The land remains with the trust, essentially creating a permanent subsidy.

After three years spent developing its mission and securing its nonprofit status, KOR secured its first major funding in 2018 by partnering with Redmond-based Housing Works on a grant request from the city of Bend. The city awarded KOR enough money to close a deal on its first piece of land, a roughly half-acre parcel on 27th Street and Hurita Place on Bend’s east side.

While anyone is welcome to apply, KOR is positioning itself to serve working people who might not qualify for other forms of affordable housing by taking applicants who make up to 125 percent of area median income. That’s a niche where other housing providers aren’t able to operate consistently, said Lynne McConnell, Bend’s affordable housing manager.

“We know home ownership is still a part of the American dream and support the type of approach that Amy and Jason have taken,” McConnell said. “It’s a great opportunity for middle class folks to have a chance to buy a house in Bend at lower price than they would get at a market rate.”

KOR plans to break ground on its development—dubbed Corazon, Spanish for heart—this spring. The development will include five homes, developed on a 1,100-square foot floor plan with shared community and open space.

Beth Alvarado Found Her Creative Home in Bend

Local writer and OSU-Cascades faculty member Beth Alvarado talks about family, anxiety and more in her latest collection of essays, Anxious Attachments.

Author Beth Alvarado in Bend, Oregon

Beth Alvarado comes from a family of storytellers, so it’s no surprise that she found writing as her creative outlet and ultimately her career. In 2013, after her husband died, she started spending summers in Bend and moved here in 2016 to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She is core faculty at OSU-Cascades Low Residency MFA Program, where she teaches prose, both fiction and creative nonfiction. Her third book, Anxious Attachments, is a book of essays that will be published in March from Autumn House Press.

Tell us about your new book.

This is my third book; these essays span events that took place over forty years of my life. Many of them are about personal struggles—quitting heroin, caring for preemies, tending to the dying—but none are purely personal. Instead, each takes up issues that have affected my family and cause me a lot of anxiety, especially when I think of my children and grandchildren. Although the theme of anxiety runs through the book, I have also woven my story with my husband, Fernando, through it. Even though he died, he is still the glue that holds everything together for me. I think being married to him gave me a way of seeing our individual lives as being part of a larger web of lives—how everyone is connected and how we are, therefore, responsible to one another.

What topics do you cover in your essays?

One essay is about Fernando’s cancer in the context of the water pollution in Tucson that contributed to his death and to the deaths of approximately 20,000 other people, primarily Mexican and Native Americans; one is about caring for my infant grandchildren in Bend last summer, while surrounded by wildfires; another essay explores the ramifications of school shootings and video games in my life as a teacher and in the lives of my older grandchildren who attend public schools; another is about a journey I took to Mexico to see the place where my father-in-law was orphaned during the Mexican Revolution.

When did you first realize you were a writer?

I was a kid who went to the library every weekend and checked out a stack of books. I always wanted to write. My mother wanted to encourage me, so she refurbished an old Underwood typewriter and gave it to me along with a copy of Writers’ Digest Magazine. I had always wanted to draw but had no talent for it, but I could describe things in words. Later, in high school, I loved black and white photography, but it was too costly to pursue. When I got married, I started writing again. It was as if I needed some kind of creative outlet, and I always had paper and pens. In some ways, because I got married and had children so young, I think writing became this place in my life that was just for me, where I could be myself and remember who I was as an individual.

How did you carve out time for your writing while you were a busy mom with young children?

It wasn’t easy. I think the hardest thing is having any solitude for thinking. Like William Stafford said once, writing is like fishing. You have to cast the line out every morning and see what happens, but with young children, of course, you don’t have that luxury. Back when my kids were little, I had to stay up really late at night to write or study. And if you’re writing, teaching, and caring for others—each of those activities requires focus and attention. They are not things you can put on automatic pilot. And so you need to tell yourself to give over specific time to your writing, even if it’s only two mornings a week, and then you need to protect that time.

What do you recommend to people who are interested in writing themselves?

Initially, I wanted to be a poet, and the advice that I was given was, “If you want to write good poetry, read contemporary fiction.” So I did. I read everything in this anthology my husband had from his English class at the community college. Katherine Anne Porter and James Baldwin were two of the writers I liked and so I went to the library and got all of their other books. By the time I did go back to school as an undergraduate, I had already educated myself—but I had given myself an alternative education because when I was in school in the ’80s, you could go for whole semesters without reading one woman writer or one writer of color and those were the writers who spoke to me and whose work affirmed my own attempts at writing, my own subject matter. That’s kind of a long way of saying: be a reader if you want to be a writer. I have heard so many writers say that their best teachers were books.

Why was finding a creative community in Bend vital to you?

I told myself I would never be one of those people who retire and then follow their children. I never wanted my daughter’s life to become my life, and she didn’t want me to do that either. But living near her, and closer to my son and his family in Boise, is every bit as important as my writing life in Tucson. It goes back to that central conflict, the pull between family and the writing, and it’s partly why I made the move gradually and why I wanted to be involved in OSU – Cascades. I had to meet other writers. I had to find my creative home. Now that I’ve been here for a few years and met other writers and now that my most recent writing is set here in the Oregon high desert, I am starting to feel as if I’ve found a new home.

Allyship in Action Co-Founder Kerani Mitchell Is On A Mission

Kerani Mitchell is on a mission to create an inclusive Central Oregon for all.

Women's Issue Activist Kerani Mitchell in Bend, Oregon
photo by marisa chappell hossick

If you got to know Kerani Mitchell through her recent Bend City Council bid, you might know she’s a woman of color, a renter and a telecommuter. But if you’re involved in local social justice work, you know her conversation-starting candidacy is just the tip of the iceberg.

Adopted from India as an infant, 33-year-old Mitchell has lived in Central Oregon since middle school. And though she spent her youth in Sisters listening to country music and caring for farm animals, she is often perceived as an outsider because of her first name and skin color. It’s a perception she has battled all her life, but it’s also a challenge that has prompted her to take an active role creating conversations that dispels harmful myths and prejudices in our midst.

“This is my home. This is where I grew up. This is where my family still lives. If there’s any place in the world I can claim as home and have some part in social change, it’s here,” she explained. “And if I want to stay and live here, it’s imperative that my community and I move forward on issues of equity, inclusion, education and social transformation.”

I’ve had insight into Mitchell’s often behind- the-scenes work over the past year and a half as Mitchell and I have gone from acquaintances to business partners. But Mitchell isn’t looking for recognition (case in point: she was reluctant to be interviewed). For her, community involvement is both a spiritual responsibility and a survival tactic.

Mitchell grew up Catholic and is inspired by the Jesuits’ “Ignatian spirituality,” which author Ronald Mordas describes as “a humanism that defends human rights, prizes learning from other cultures, seeks common ground between science and religion,” and social justice.

Mitchell developed strong community connections in her youth, volunteering with her dad’s Kiwanis club, serving as a camp counselor, and facilitating art groups for grieving kids. While these connections were protective, as one of the few persons of color in Sisters, she still experienced inequities her peers didn’t face. And it got worse after 9/11.

“It was a very lonely experience to walk around with fear of racial profiling or just silly comments. People calling me the ‘n-word,’ or refusing to shake my hand,” Mitchell recalls.

When she returned home from Seattle University, Mitchell says these interactions and attitudes persisted. Strangers would ask “Where are you from?” and get angry when she said, “Sisters.” Or say things like, “Aren’t you glad you’re here? You could have ended up like Slumdog Millionaire.”

So Mitchell channeled those experiences into the Oregon Humanities conversation project “Where Are You From?” The project has taken her across the state to facilitate conversations about identity and belonging and given her an opportunity to reclaim her narrative.

Mitchell said she has always had a strong sense of empathy and a passion for solving problems. Raised to be independent, she’s never been shy about taking action.

We founded Allyship in Action together in 2018, bringing together local equity facilitators to support one another and the community. But she says it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate the power of diverse folks coming together as allies to one another.

“I’ve had crisis and pain in my life, and I viscerally remember what it is like to feel alone,” Mitchell explained. “If I can do something that someone else might not be able to do, I feel it’s my responsibility in that moment to honor my community by speaking up.”

Weekend Roundup: March 6-10

From live music to conservation talks to gourmet dinner—and some skiing in between—it’s going to be a great weekend to be in Central Oregon.

Photo by Alex Jordan

Sisters Folk Festival Winter Series: Darlingside
March 6 | Sisters High School Auditorium | $12.50-$22.50

Central Oregon’s winter music scene heats up with a weekend full of folk, Americana and bluegrass. If you missed your chance to get tickets to the Bluegrass Showcase at the Belfry, you can still see a great show this weekend. Darlingside will be playing tonight (Wednesday) at the Sisters High School Auditorium.

Conservation in Central Oregon
March 7 | OSU-Cascades Graduate Research Center | Free

Influential women in the environmental and conservation industry—Joanne Richter, Amy Stuart, Carina Miller, Julie Weikel and Liz Woody—will be panelists in a discussion about conservation in Central Oregon, particularly issues of conservation as they relate to environmental justice.

Cascade Crest Nordic Ski Marathon and Relay
March 8-10 | Mt. Bachelor | $35-$200

Nordic skiers of all levels can take part in the annual Cascade Crest Nordic Ski Marathon and Relay. There are 50k, 25k and 10k races as well as a four-person relay. A post-race party will be held in town at WebSkis Ski and Bike Shop.

Guest Chef Dinner at Suttle Lodge
March 9 | Suttle Lodge | $100

Chef Justin Woodward, who launched Portland restaurant Castagna into the fifteenth best restaurant in the country, will be the featured chef at the Suttle Lodge’s special dinner this weekend. Woodward’s style is described as “extremely seasonal and progressive” and will be paired with wines from sommelier Brent Braun.

La Pine Crab Feed
March 9 | La Pine Community Center | $40

Get your seafood fix at the annual Crab Feed in La Pine. This is the seventeenth year for the annual all-you-can-eat fundraiser for La Pine Frontier Days. The event takes place at the La Pine Community Center. Tickets go fast and won’t be sold at the door, so get yours early.

Local Artist Kelly Thiel Has A New Collaboration With Athleta

Contemporary artist Kelly Thiel’s feminine mystique takes center stage in a new colalboration with Athleta featuring female athletes.

Kelly Thiel mixed media artist in Bend, Oregon
photo by alex jordan

In her studio space on Bend’s west side, artist Kelly Thiel puts on headphones, cranks up her music and begins layering paint on canvas. Because she’s always short on time, she paints fast and intuitively. The resulting canvases are colorful, contemporary and express the mystery and mood of her subjects, often women.

“I’m obsessed with people’s personal stories and experience,” she said. “I want to know what they have to say and convey that through my art.”

Thiel begins her paintings by “journaling,” which involves writing words on canvas with translucent Copic ink. It’s a way for her to organize her thoughts. Sometimes she covers the words entirely as she builds layers of acrylic ink onto the canvas. Other times, she allows the words to peek through. “Words infuse energy onto the piece,” she said.

J.M. Brodrick, an internationally recognized Bend painter, said that her friend and colleague is “fearless and doesn’t hold back. She’ll attack any subject and dive in. She may struggle when she’s first learning a new technique, but then she triumphs.”

In a collaboration with Athleta, the sportswear company for women and girls, Thiel will create a series of paintings from photos her husband, Charlie, took of model-athletes striking various athletic poses. “I want to show the grace and elegance and strength of these women,” she said. The seven to ten females featured in the series will complement Athleta’s color line for 2019 and will hang in the store’s retail space in the Old Mill District during June. Charlie will also exhibit his photos. A portion of any painting that Thiel sells will go to Saving Grace, a nonprofit that supports individuals experiencing violence and sexual assault.

Art by mixed media artist Kelly Thiel in Bend, oregon

An interior designer by education, Thiel began her art career as a sculptor 1999 when she and her mother enrolled in a pottery course in Charleston, South Carolina, where Thiel was living at the time. She spent eight years making mugs, plates and cups from clay. When her mother died in 2008, Thiel shifted her attention to figurative work in clay and also began painting. Sculpture and painting inform one another, she said.

Today she splits her time equally between the two mediums. A common theme in her early work was birds, which her mother loved. She incorporated them into both mediums, often as human-bird hybrids. Horns, rabbit ears and even a small flock of birds adorn the heads of women. “It was art therapy, and started out as a way for me to ‘fly away.’ As I healed, I moved away from birds,” she said.

In 2014, Thiel and her family moved to Central Oregon, and in 2015, she joined with two other women to open The Wilds— Coworking for Creatives. It functions as studio space for her and other artists and office space for people working in creative fields. On evenings and weekends, it’s gathering spot and a place for art classes. It’s also where she can exhibit her work; a series of abstract paintings currently hangs along one wall, perhaps signaling a new direction in her art.

Mixed media artist kelly thiel in Bend, Oregon
photo by alex jordan

Brodrick likes her friend’s abstract work and notes that she is likely to continue to pursue both figurative and abstract impulses. “I admire Kelly’s boldness in colors, and it’s one of the things that stands her apart from other artists. She’s got a lot of potential and pushes the edges. What she’s doing now is not what she’ll be doing ten years from now.”

The 46-year-old artist exhibits paintings and sculptures across the country, and sculpture internationally at the Kunsthuis Gallery in Yorkshire, northern England. Her work has been on the cover of Handmade Business Magazine and in the 500 Figures in Clay, Volume 2, published in 2014 by in Lark Books, a publisher that showcases the best in the craft world. The public can sometimes see Thiel’s artwork around town in such places as the Oxford Hotel, Franklin Crossing, Substance Coffee and Stellar Realty Northwest. She also does commissioned work, with prices for a painting or sculpture ranging between $1,000 and $3,000.

In Alfalfa, Wildflower Farm Considers Farming’s Future

Windflower Farm, an artisan farm on the edge of the high desert, swims against the current.

Windflower Farm in Bend, Oregon

Spring at Windflower Farm in Alfalfa may appear much as it has for the past fourteen years, with a couple of thoroughbreds loping on twenty acres shared with hens, goats, honeybees, and planted with flowers. Here, at the edge of the Badlands about fifteen miles east of Bend, Gigi Meyer is considering her next move.

Since 2005, Meyer has poured her commitment to biodiversity into her land, creating a small-scale sustainable farm that has supplied stellar produce and eggs to some of the area’s best chefs and discerning consumers. It has also been a working classroom for area college students and aspiring farmers.

The animals provide fertilizer composted on-site, crops are rotated, and flowers are planted to attract insects that support a vibrant ecosystem before the blooms are sold to restaurants and boutique markets. The farm isn’t certified organic, but Meyer uses no pesticides, even those approved for certified organic farms. Meyer found that by continually caring for the soil, strategic seed selection and time-sensitive planting, she didn’t need any chemicals.

Windflower Farm in Bend, Oregon
Gigi Meyer and Rosie the goat

“It’s my own baroque artist thing—I bring it all in and distill it into a system that works,” said Meyer. “That’s my M.O., a microcosm of the natural process.” Meyer grew up on a ranch in Eastern Oregon, studied art at the New York Studio School in Manhattan, lived in Italy and trained racehorses in Southern California before returning to her home state.

Now, the farm is symbolic of concerns about Oregon’s agricultural future. The average age of Oregon farmers is 60, up from 55 in 2002. As farmers retire, more than 10 million acres—64 percent of Oregon’s agricultural land—will be sold. The potential change in use could massively affect Oregon’s economy, environment and food sources, which calls for thoughtful succession planning.

At age 60, after decades of intensely physical work and riding crazy, young thoroughbreds, Meyer is looking for a young farmer to take the reins. She wants to stay on the farm, but return to her earlier artistic pursuits, writing and painting. “I’ve built something that’s productive to society, the community, and the landscape. There are farmers like me all across the country, and I’m proud of what I’ve created.”

Windflower Farm in Bend, Oregon

Others are, too. Owen Murphy, assistant professor of Health and Human Performance at Central Oregon Community College, said, “Windflower is such a valuable learning experience for my students because of how diverse it is—vegetables, flowers, herbs, milk and meat. It’s a wonderful example of smallscale, polyculture-based agriculture.”

Last year, Murphy brought his Sustainable Food Production Systems class there. “It was the dead of winter, but we helped weed, mulch and prep the beds for spring,” he said. “Then we gathered around for dinner with ingredients sourced from the farm. It was cold and dark outside, but full of warmth and conversation inside. Gigi helped the students understand some of the hard work and joy associated with small-scale farming.”

Modern Home Embraces Urban Location and Lifestyle

Bend couple’s infill home adds a modern twist to an established westside neighborhood.

Columbia Street Home design and style in Bend, Oregon

By the time Andy and Jenny Boyd had sold a successful business, traveled the world and returned home to Boulder, they were ready for a change. “Bend felt like a better place [than Boulder] to raise our kid,” Andy recalled. “We get outside here more often, and exploring the area is way easier, plus we love being within striking distance of West Coast cities and the ocean.”

During a visit to Bend in the “snowpocalypse” winter of 2017, they found an empty lot (buried under a mound of snow) that met their requirements. It was a block off Galveston Avenue, steps away from the food trucks at The Lot and easy strolling distance from the Deschutes River and Drake Park. They’d lived in San Francisco “where we shared a car, walked everywhere and got hooked on a pedestrian lifestyle,” Jenny said. Also, Westside Village Magnet School was nearby and their son, Emmett, could walk to school until the eighth grade. “That was huge for us and helped us pick the neighborhood,” she added.

The couple hired Brandon Olin of Olin Architecture to design a contemporary home. A top priority for the Boyds was to maximize natural and direct sunlight. To achieve this, Olin placed the house toward the north side of the property, thereby opening up the south side by putting windows, doors and outdoor space there. Natural light floods the great room through an open ceiling and a span of skylights in the two-story home. “Brandon just crushed it,” Andy said. He recalled a moment last December shortly after moving into the house. “I came downstairs in the morning and the room was lit up. I didn’t have to turn on any lights.”

Besides a lot of light, Andy and Jenny sought clean, unfussy lines. The floor and kitchen counter tops are concrete, the walls industrial white, there’s a steel guardrail at the stairs and no trim around windows or doors. In short, everything about the home from finishes to furniture speaks minimalism.

Columbia Street Home design and style in Bend, Oregon

The Boyds hired interior designer Kate Darden to help them realize their minimalist aesthetic and select furnishings. “Jenny and Andy steered away from soft finishes, such as carpeting, wall coverings or drapery,” she said. “Instead, they opted for pops of bold color, nothing moody or dramatic.”

Exposed wood ceiling beams in the living room, hardwood floors upstairs and splashes of colored tile and area rugs soften and complement the hard surfaces. Darden selected Moroccan and handmade tile in primary colors for several places, including a showpiece gas fireplace in the living room. The artichoke-patterned yellow tile is “beautifully fired and feels really warm,” she said. Olin added that the fireplace with its yellow tile “is cool because it is substantial enough that you see it from the front of the house.”

For consistency, Darden stuck with primary colored tile throughout the home. She chose hexagon blue tile with stars for 9-year-old Emmett’s upstairs bathroom and a green tile in random shapes in the downstairs powder room. For the couple’s master bath, she went with white tiles etched in black lines on the back wall to match the square cabinetry and retro Schoolhouse pendant lights. Cabinetry throughout the house is by Harvest Moon Woodworks and features exposed plywood-edges with cutouts for pulls, rather than hardware.

The 2,300-square-foot home has one great room that flows from living room to dining room and kitchen. Behind the kitchen is a narrow hallway with a cozy TV and reading room that can be closed off by a sliding barn door, and a mud room at the back. Olin added a second side-yard-facing garage door at the back which gives the homeowners another opportunity to blend indoor and outdoor living. “We located three bedrooms upstairs for privacy and to take advantage of elevated views of the neighborhood with an additional covered outdoor patio off the master bedroom,” Olin said.

Columbia Street home style and design in Bend, Oregon

An interesting feature of the home is its view of the Texaco station on Galveston, especially from the master bedroom. “Jenny and Andy embraced the fact that their neighborhood is about as urban as it gets in Bend, and they enjoy having The Lot and Galveston literally right out their door,” Olin said. “I think their background of having lived throughout the U.S. and in urban environments…contributed to the feeling of being comfortable right in the city.”

Land Effects installed the landscaping, which includes large concrete blocks with gravel and turf strips between them, small trees and giant rocks. The front yard is bordered by a low, concrete wall, with seats arrayed around a firepit, a place where the couple hopes to entertain friends and neighbors who stop by.

The exterior continues the interior’s sleek, contemporary lines. The siding is vertical board and batten painted white, broken up by horizontal cedar boards and a black front door with opaque glass panels. “The house turned out taller and stands out more than we expected, but we love it,” Andy said. “This was a fun project. It turned out to be a super home.”

Epic Aircraft is Cleared for Takeoff

Epic Aircraft’s new plane has the Bend company posed for a second chapter.

Epic Aircraft over Crater Lake from Bend, Oregon
Photo by Jean Marie Urlacher

Every Thursday afternoon, Epic Aircraft employees gather in a showroom hangar for some food and drink. In late January, the crew was also asked to do something a little different during the event: sign their name to an airplane cowling, its hood, and typically one of the last pieces of a plane put in place.

The signatures were at the request of the aircraft’s owner as Epic neared completion of its fifty-fourth and final experimental kit. That plane will mark the end of an era for Epic, which has been designing and manufacturing carbon fiber, high-performance turboprop “kit” planes since 2004.

Today, a new $3.25 million plane currently being assembled at Epic’s Bend headquarters is poised to help the company truly take off. After seven years of design, manufacturing and rigorous testing, the Epic E1000 is set to become the company’s first FAA-certified, fully factory-built aircraft, fulfilling a goal the company had from the beginning.

“It also signals the arrival of a truly game-changing aircraft,” said Epic CEO Doug King. “One that is going to disrupt the aviation industry, setting a new standard for innovation, performance and price. Now that is very exciting.”

Epic’s first five factory-built E1000 aircraft are in production, in various stages of fabrication, bonding and final assembly. They are expected to be delivered to customers later this year.

“We have a large order book of more than eighty airplanes, we just need to start delivering planes, and we intend to do that this summer,” King said. “This is a big year for us.”

From Kit to Complete

Epic Aircraft in Bend, Oregon
Photo by Jill Rosell

The coveted FAA certification is “a done deal,” said Gale Evans, Epic’s marketing manager. “The only question is exactly when it will be a done deal.”

The experimental kit plane process Epic gained national recognition for involved the company designing and manufacturing the aircraft, but the FAA required customers to build 51 percent of the plane. The process often took several years to complete with customers spending weeks at a time at Epic putting together the planes under close supervision.

The new FAA certificate, expected this summer, allows Epic to design and build the plane from start to finish and ramp up production considerably. Since 2004, just fifty-two planes were sold and built. Epic now expects to build more than fifty planes a year and already has orders from customers in the U.S., Australia, Europe and Russia.

“We’re expanding our market from 10 percent [of the general aviation market] to all of it,” King said. “And instead of requiring a deep personal commitment to the kit-plane process, now all a potential customer has to determine is whether it’s capable enough for them and whether they can afford it.”

King said his customers are folks who run small to mid-sized businesses—construction contractors, developers, doctors or entertainers. They are people who have money and who need to move around quickly. Because of its smaller size, the E1000 is able to land and take off from some of the hundreds of smaller airports situated around the country, an intriguing benefit for many potential customers.

Epic touts the E1000 as cheaper and faster than its competitors. The six-seater can fly from San Francisco to the Mississippi River on a single tank of gas, cruising at 375 miles per hour fully loaded.

“It expands their ability to get around at near airliner speeds at relatively low costs,” King said.

Pia Bergqvist, executive editor at Flying Magazine, has been monitoring Epic and the certification process for years. She flew in one of the test E1000s a few years ago and said, “The performance truly is spectacular” and seconds Epic’s claims that the new plane is much more capable than its rivals.

“Airplanes not only have to perform really well, but they have to be sexy for people to want to buy them,” she said. “It’s a cool looking plane and it has terrific performance. I think it’s going to be a winner once it’s out.”

New Plane, New Culture

Doug King Epic Aircraft CEO in Bend, Oregon
Photo by Jill Rosell

It’s definitely been a long trip for Epic and King. Just ten years ago, King was an Epic customer and in the middle of building his own kit plane when the company went bankrupt, mothballing his project for a while.

A year later, he formed an investment group of kit-plane owners who bought and rescued the company. In 2012 King sold to a private Russian investor, solidifying the company’s financial future and ensuring funding would be in place for FAA certication. King stayed on board as the CEO.

“That was an interesting time and the decision I had to make was, do I walk away from it or do I go all in,” King said. “A lot of people thought I was nuts investing in an airplane company in 2010 [in the midst of the recession]…but the airplane is really a star. I had a chance to do it and it turned one dream into a different dream.”

Epic has reason to be optimistic about the future market for its new plane. There were close to 400 turboprop deliveries through the third quarter of 2018—up nearly six percent from 2017 according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Officials there are bullish about the $12.7 billion industry’s future performance, in part, due to new products set to be introduced.

“The industry is very excited,” Evans said. “The FAA has been supportive of us too. Aviation needs more innovation and we’re offering the market something new, something that will redefine expectations in the industry.”

The projected increase in production means they’ll also need to increase the current workforce at Epic, which already hovers around 250 people. King said Epic could hire as many as 100 new employees in the coming year, to do everything from fabrication to final inspection.

Epic Aircraft in Bend, Oregon
Photo by Jill Rosell

“We’re always hiring here,” King said. “And it’s a good job that someone with or even without a degree can begin a good career in Bend. That’s the biggest reason for our outreach in the area. We’re not trying to find customers here, but we are trying to find employees.”

Epic discontinued its kit plane program in 2013, preparing for the FAA certification. When the final experimental plane is ready, they’ll bring it to the showroom hangar— complete with a giant bow. Evans said they will probably involve the entire Epic staff and give the plane a special send-off, effectively turning the page for the company.

“It’s closing one chapter,” Evans said, “and starting a very exciting next chapter that everyone has their eyes focused on.”

Spider City Brewing is Owned Entirely By Women

Spider City Brewing is not only Bend’s newest brewery, but it is also the only brewery in the region run entirely by women.

Spider City Brewing in Bend, Oregon
Melanie Betti

Bend’s newest brewery, Spider City Brewing, opened late last year on Bend’s east side and gained attention not only for its unusual name (a reference to the residential garage that housed Spider City’s pre-launch homebrewing system) but also because it is Bend’s only brewery owned entirely by women.

Twin sisters Melanie and Michele Betti and Tammy Treat spent the last several years planning the brewery and developing recipes, homebrewing in the garage while homing in on their brewery and taproom concept. Longtime friends, the brewery idea was a pipedream long before it was a plan.

“We met each other at California State University, Chico. We all have a passion for beer and dreamed of one day opening our own brewery. Perhaps it was all that Sierra Nevada we drank at Chico,” joked Betti.

What’s it like going from homebrew-sized batches to fifteen-barrel batches?

We invested in a SABCO BrewMagic Pilot brewhouse and four glycol-chilled stainless-steel fermenters in order to be able to brew on a system that would mirror to some extent our fifteen-barrel brew house. This system has allowed us to brew at a professional level and work on our recipe development.

How has being a sommelier (and owner of The Wine Shop) helped you with beer and brewing?

As a sommelier I know what is in balance and what is out of balance in wine and beer. I have traveled all over the world for wine, and in every country that I visit I always make sure I check out the beer scene. I have always loved beer just as much as I love wine. It is that passion that drove me to open a brewery and to make good, quality, clean beer.

You’ve already got quite a variety of beers on tap. Are there any styles that you look forward to brewing?

We will always keep things fresh at Spider City Brewing. Michele, Tammy and I use our travels to inspire us. We are going to be coming up with some very cool hopped recipes that I think the public will enjoy and some kettle sours that will be super drinkable.

When you were homebrewing and developing recipes, were there any notable successes that made it to the commercial level?

Yes. We have a few recipes that are some of our most popular in which rye and rye flakes are used in the malt bill. The key to a good malt bill is keeping it simple, but then trying to see if there is a malt that can add complexity to the overall profile of the beer. I’m talking two to three percent to the overall recipe.

Were there any notable failures? What did you learn from those?

Of course, yes! Our fruit beers gave us some of the most trouble. Using fresh fruit is always the preferable method. It may cost a bit more and take a little longer, but the results are worth it. And like I said before, the key to a good recipe is keeping the malt bill simple. And the hop additions minimal too. There are several tricks you can use to get the most out of a hop. If you get too complex, then everything gets muddled.

I know the brewery has just launched, but are there any plans to package the beer in cans or bottles?

Yes. We plan on canning our beer in sixteen-ounce cans. While the public is waiting on those you can always stop by the southeast side brewery and pick up a Crowler or two to go. Those are always fun!

Bend’s Lava City Roller Dolls Were Born to Roll

An interview with Bend’s Sierra Klapproth, a member of the all-female flat-track roller derby team, the Lava City Roller Dolls.

Sierra Klapproth with Lava City Roller Dolls in Bend, Oregon

Founded in 2006, the Lava City Roller Dolls is Bend’s all-female flat-track roller derby team. We talked with Bend’s Sierra Klapproth, who’s been skating with the club since she was 10. Now 19, Klapproth, the team’s point-scoring jammer, shares what drew her to roller derby and how she skates like a Star Wars character.

How did 10-year-old Sierra come to join roller derby?

In fourth grade I read a book called Derby Girl (the YA novel behind the film Whip It!). I fell in love with the idea of it. I talked to my parents and said, ‘I want to do this, I need this.’ They took me to the roller skating rink, and there happened to be a flier about a junior roller derby camp. I signed up for the camp and loved it. I’ve been doing it ever since.

How was roller derby different than other sports you had participated in?

I always wanted to play football, but girls don’t play football. There wasn’t really an aggressive sport option for girls. Once I got into derby, this aggressive sport with girls of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds, it made me feel so strong, even as a young kid. I felt a real sense of belonging for the tomboyish kid that I was.

What’s the story behind your skater name Darth Maully?

I picked my name the night before I went to my first derby camp, because I was worried that my real name wasn’t tough enough. My brother had one of his Star War collectibles on the railing of the stairs. It was a Darth Maul doll. He is really mysterious and on the dark side. I always liked that he was super agile and strong. Now, it reflects the way I skate. I like to be sneaky, agile and play mental mind games. It’s a perfect match.

Do you feel or act differently when you’re in the rink versus your “normal” life?

Absolutely. As a junior, I definitely was more outspoken and more aggressive [on skates]. In my day-to-day life, I was a shy, nerdy kid. For the older women, derby is their loud, crazy outlet because they sit behind a desk during the day.

Why is roller derby important to you and the other women on your team?

For me personally, it keeps me strong, mentally and physically, which is something that I’ve always really valued. It’s also taught me to be more comfortable with myself. That it doesn’t matter what I look like, or what I am into. It puts such a strength into people. I see grown women who are shy and really quiet, and all of the sudden they are strong and fast and really outspoken. They just come out of their shell.

What are you future derby dreams?

I’ve always had the goal to skate in Portland for the Rose City Roller Dolls. They’re the number one team in the world. In the last several years as derby has grown, there are World Cups with Team USA, which I would love to be a part of.

Find Off-Season Revelry in Southern Oregon’s Cultural Hub

This spring, make a trip to Ashland, a cultural and outdoors hub in the heart of Southern Oregon.

Lithia Park Ashland Retreat
Lithia Park. Photo by Sean Bagshaw

My daughters run through the sycamore grove in Lithia Park, our first stop during our three-day Ashland getaway. The grove is one of my favorite places in Ashland, Southern Oregon’s cultural hub. Home to the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, we visit Ashland each year to see live theater and music, eat amazing meals, take a backstage tour, do a little shopping and wander in urban nature.

Ashland in the summer means packed streets, hot weather and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival at full tilt. But OSF actually fires up in March, and this year, we decided to make Southern Oregon our spring break trip. The scene is quieter, temperatures are high 60s instead of high 80s, and while we won’t be hitting the hotel pool, it’s still at least ten degrees warmer than back home in Bend. It feels great to get out of town, soak up some culture, and of course, walk in Lithia Park—ninety-three acres of landscaped paradise on Ashland Creek, featuring a Japanese garden, two duck ponds, a formal rose garden and a children’s playground.

After the park, we wander along the creek downtown and explore the Lithia Artisans Market, a little outdoor shopping experience featuring art, clothing and trinkets. Then it’s dinner at Standing Stone Brewery, which uses as many local products as possible, even in their beer (try the I Heart Oregon Ale, which is 100 percent Oregon-sourced).

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Ashland retreat
Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Photo by T Charles Erickson

It’s busy before play time, and after our meal we walk with others up the hill to the Angus Bowmer Theatre to see a contemporary drama. While the festival was founded eighty years ago as a Shakespeare-only troupe, today OSF presents plays of all eras and genres. This early in the season, the outdoor theater isn’t open yet, and the nightly free entertainment known as the Green Show hasn’t begun either, but the tradeoff is that we got great seats, second row, and the girls are riveted throughout the romantic, Elizabethan, sometimes-bawdy story of Shakespeare in Love.

On the agenda the next morning is the backstage tour, led by an OSF company member and a great way to learn more about festival history, the amazing effort that goes into productions and get a glimpse behind the curtain, from the dressing rooms to the set to stories of when things went wrong on stage (unscripted vomiting, anyone?).

A long weekend in Ashland is these experiences on repeat: another play, another meal, some shopping, another walk in the park. Our three days in Ashland pass quickly, and we return home with a lingering taste of the culture and flavor of Southern Oregon.

Restaurants

Larks restaurant in Ashalnd, Oregon
Larks

Larks, in the Ashland Springs Hotel, serves fresh fine dining focusing on local products and produce. The light and lovely space is the perfect place for a nice meal accompanied by great cocktails and an extensive Oregon-based wine list. Brother’s Restaurant serves delicious breakfast and lunch and is a great option for brunch before a matinee. The food here is plentiful and extremely tasty, and best accompanied by one of their incredible bloody marys.

Lodging

Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Oregon
Ashland Springs Hotel

Ashland Springs Hotel is the crown jewel. This luxurious landmark hotel first opened in 1925 and underwent a restoration and reopening in 2000. Rooms are modest in size but beautiful and comfortable. The lobby is a little natural history museum, with bird taxidermy, eggs and seashells on display. Bard’s Inn is another great lodging option, located within easy walking distance of theaters. With many rooms including suites, and a swimming pool, this is a great destination for families. Jacksonville Inn, built in 1861 during the gold rush, is a good choice for extremely charming lodging and dining in nearby Jacksonville.

Nearby Attractions

Crater Lake National Park near Ashland, Oregon
Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is between Bend and Ashland. The road from the south doesn’t open until summer season, but a stop is well worth the effort in season. Applegate Valley offers wine tasting and scenery galore in this valley with over a dozen wineries. Jacksonville began as a gold rush town in the 1850s and is home to the Britt Festival, a summer-long lineup of concerts in a very pretty and unique outdoor venue in the hills just to the west of downtown. The Rogue River is one of America’s original Wild and Scenic Rivers, and a terric destination for whitewater rafting, fishing and hiking.

The Perfect Meal To Eat At Ariana Restaurant This Season

An evening at Ariana is like being at a convivial party at the home of friends—ones who serve eclectic, seasonal dishes inspired by their Italian and Colombian roots, that is.

Date night at Ariana Restaurant in Bend, Oregon
Sicilian-style calamari. Photo by Alex Jordan

Start with an appetizer that Ariana Restaurant co-owners and chefs Ariana and Andres Fernandez discovered in New York City in 2014, when they were invited to cook a dinner at the prestigious James Beard House.

During the trip at The Spotted Pig restaurant, they ordered gnudi, a ricotta ravioli of sorts, but one that’s practically “nude,” with a fine, delicate layer veiling the cheese rather than encasing it in a pasta shell. The husband-and-wife team adapted the recipe, creating a gluten-free version using rice and tapioca flour.

“We did that purposefully, because many of our clients are gluten-free,” said Ariana.

They strain luscious, whole-milk ricotta overnight, form it into small, meatball-size balls, roll it in the non-wheat flour mixture, and allow a thin exterior layer to form overnight. They cook them like ravioli and serve them with brown butter and fried sage. Pair it with a glass of 2017 Bethel Heights pinot gris, from Eola-Amity Hills in the Willamette Valley. Not your typical pinot gris, it’s made in an Alsatian style.

“In other words, the wine is bone-dry,” said sommelier Brett Larson. “Most Oregon pinot gris maintain a noticeable amount of residual sugar.”

With notes of green apple, pear, and wet stone, this light-to-medium bodied wine’s racy acidity balances the richness of the dish.

Next, try the Sicilian-style calamari, a menu mainstay in honor of Ariana’s family heritage. Andres created the salty-sweet recipe, simmering the tender squid with tomato, chiles, capers, currants, and serving it with fregola, tiny, toasted balls of semolina pasta. Savor it with a 2016 Bodega Bernabeleva garnacha, Camino de Navaherreros, from a vineyard on the eastern edge of mountains west of Madrid.

The cool nights at higher elevation prompt good acidity, and notes of raspberry and rhubarb plays against the tomato sauce. Light-to-medium bodied, with very little tannin structure, it allows the salty-sweet flavor of the calamari to reveal itself.

Weekend Roundup: Feb. 27-Mar. 3

There may be a ton of snow on the ground, but there are also some great events to get you outside this weekend. Check out an art exhibit, live music or classical music, or join the Muse Conference or the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show.

World Muse Conference
February 28-March 3 | Bend | $15-$395

Join a community of women activists, writers, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs and leaders for the seventh annual Muse Conference. There will be inspiring talks from leaders of industry, workshops, discussion panels, film screenings, art installations and more. Muse brings together women from the region and all over the country for a weekend of inspiration and connection.

Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show
February 28-March 3 | Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond | $2.50-$18, Free 5 and under

With hundreds of vendors and expert-led workshops, the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show draws thousands of anglers, hunters, climbers, watersports enthusiasts and more. Browse local and national vendors to find the latest gear for all your outdoor adventures. Book a dream trip with an outfitter and tour the latest RV’s and campers. There will be tons of prizes and giveaways that you won’t want to miss out on.

The Beauty of Wild Things: Drawings by April Coppini
Opens March 2 | High Desert Museum | General Admission Prices

A new exhibit opens at the High Desert Museum this weekend. “The Beauty of Wild Things” is a series of charcoal drawing by Portland artist April Coppini. Featuring animals native to the Pacific Northwest, “she makes images that are expressive, engaging and keenly observed in terms of their lifelike detail” according to the museum. Her work will be on display until mid June.

Music in Public Places
March 2 | Prineville, Redmond, Sisters public libraries and Wille Hall, Bend | Free

Take the opportunity to attend a free classical music concert at venues across Central Oregon. The Music in Public Places series from the Central Oregon Symphony will present four free performances at the public libraries in Prineville, Redmond and Sisters and at Wille Hall in Bend. Each performance will feature a different local quintet , quartet or duo. The first notes will be played at 2 p.m.

“Roll Red Roll”
March 4 | McMenamins Old St. Francis School Theater, Bend | $12

Named an “essential viewing” by the Hollywood Reporter, “Roll Red Roll” is a true crime documentary about a small Ohio town that becomes the center of media attention after a high school sexual assault fueled by social media and the “boys will be boys” culture. The film premiered in Oregon at the 2018 BendFilm Festival and tackles important questions today.

Live Music

Concerts are a great excuse to get out of the house this weekend. March Fourth with Maxwell Friedman group will be at the Domino Room. Volcanic has a full lineup all weekend with guests including MOsley WOtta. And Thursday night is Funk Night at The Capitol featuring Marshall House Project.

Guide to Central Oregon’s Wineries and Wine Bars

Because sometimes you’re just a little beer’d out, here are the best places to find good wine and good times in Bend and beyond. For all its attention to beer, Central Oregon also has many fantastic places to enjoy a great glass of wine—some of which are even made locally. Whether you’re in the mood for a pinot or a port, or just craving a good chardonnay, one of our local wineries or wine bars will have something to fill your glass.

Elixir Wine Group

Where: 11 NW Lava Rd., Bend
Open: Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

The newest wine tasting room opened on NW Lava Road in Bend earlier this year. Elixir Wine Group, which has been importing and producing wine for more than two decades. Browse the collection at the new location and try a flight of rotating wines.

The Good Drop Wine Shoppe

Where: 141 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend
Open: Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

For one of the best selection of domestic and international bottles, look no further than The Good Drop Wine Shoppe in downtown Bend. The shoebox-sized shop is filled with a fantastic selection of bottles that you are meticulously sourced. Owner Sarah has spent time building relationships with winemakers around the world and introducing wonderful bottles to her loyal customers. Stop in to try some wine, and discover something new.

Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards

Where: 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr., Terrebonne
Open: Daily noon to 5 p.m.
Price: $10 tasting

Named for Central Oregon’s Three Sisters peaks, Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards is an estate vineyard and tasting room on 312 acres in Terrebonne. Take a tour, sip on a flight of wines, and learn about the process of growing wine grapes in the arid and unpredictable climate of Central Oregon. Along with a variety of wines, there is also a menu of small bites as well as pizza to snack on while you relax and enjoy the views from the vineyard. If you’re looking for a little more action, there is live music at the tasting room and vineyard every Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m. Grab a friend, and make this Terrebonne gem a destination wine date. (Shown in photo above.)

Maragas Winery

Where: 15523 US-97, Culver
Open: Hours change depending on the season, so check their website for the most up to date information
Price: $15 tasting

Set off Highway 97 in between Culver and Terrebonne with stunning views of Smith Rock, Maragas Winery has been open and producing old world style, barrel aged wine for more than a decade. After some starts and stops growing its own wine grapes, the winery has come into its own and produces European varietals as well as French American hybrids. Stop in for a tour and a taste of its current releases. The wine world is taking notice of Maragas’ accomplishments—the winery received silver medals for four of its bottles in the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition. And keep an eye out for its annual grape stomping event during crush in September, one of the best times of year to visit the winery.

Naked Winery

Where: 330 SW Powerhouse Dr. #10, Bend
Open: Monday to Saturday 12 p.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Price: $15 for a full tasting, $2 a splash

Find a fun atmosphere as well as glasses of great wine at Naked Winery in the Old Mill District. The wine shop and tasting room is family friendly and also has a small selection of snacks for wine-tasters. With wine made from grapes that are sourced from Oregon, Washington and California, you’ll find a variety of flavor profiles in its wines.

Portello Winecafe

Where: 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend
Open: Sunday to Tuesday 4-9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

If you’re looking for more than just a tasting of wine, your best bet in Bend is Portello Winecafe in NorthWest Crossing. The upscale, intimate setting is perfect for a date or getting together with friends. Let the experts guide you in finding a glass to complement your meal from the menu that features light and flavorful European-inspired fare. (The happy hour menu has some of the best deals in town as well.) Flights of wine are available every Saturday and Sunday night.

Va Piano Vineyards

Where: 425 SW Powerhouse Dr. #301, Bend
Open: Monday to Saturday noon to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6:00 p.m.
Price: $15 wine tasting

Sip on wine while enjoying a front-row view of the Deschutes River. Va Piano Vineyards is a new addition the Old Mill District that hails wine from Washington state. The family vineyard and winery in Walla Walla primarily uses estate-grown grapes in its small-lot batches. You can also pair your wine tasting flight with cheese plates ($18) that can be enjoyed inside the modern tasting room or outside on the patio.

The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar

Where: 55 NW Minnesota Ave.
Open: Tuesday to Thursday 1-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 1-11 p.m., Sunday noon to 7 p.m.

Find a selection to suit the whims of just about any wine and or beer lover at The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar in downtown Bend. Open late into the evening throughout the week and weekend, the cozy space is a great place to discover a new bottle or brew from regional makers and beyond. There’s also a menu of food, so you can stick around for a snack or a meal while you taste. A recent addition is a series of taps featuring ales from owner Melanie Betti’s side project, Spider City Brewing.

Weekend Roundup: February 20-24

Literary events, film screenings, foodie tastings, beer fests and more. It’s going to be a great weekend to be in Central Oregon.

Eagle Watch
Photo courtesy of Oregon State Parks

Author! Author! Colum McCann
February 21 | Riverhouse Convention Center | $30

Irish author Colum McCann will be in Bend to talk about his writing and books. McCann has authored six novels, including the popular title Let The Great World Spin and is a regular contributor to magazines such as The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and The Paris Review.

Taste of the Town
February 22 | Central Oregon Community College, Bend | $40-$150

Benefitting the scholarship program at Central Oregon Community College, Taste of the Town is a culinary event that features bites and sips from the best Central Oregon restaurants. There will also be live music from Precious Byrd and a raffle with prizes and experiences to win.

Eagle Watch
February 23-24 | Round Butte Overlook State Park, Culver | Free

The Eagle Watch is an annual tradition and natural phenomenon. Head to the Round Butte Overlook Park for a two days of free, family-friendly activities to learn more about the annual gathering of bald eagles at Lake Billy Chinook. Park rangers will be there with a birds of prey exhibit. The event also includes performances from the Warm Springs Quartz Creek dancers and drummers.

Zwickelmania
February 23 | Central Oregon | Free

Named for the valve installed on the side of a fermenter tank that allows brewers to sample beers in progress, Zwickelmania is a one-day event that started in Portland and migrated to Central Oregon. Craft breweries around the region open their doors to free tours and events to celebrate all things beer. Meet the brewers, learn about the brewing process, and try some new and exciting beers on tap.

Mountainfilm on Tour
February 22-23 | Tower Theatre | $22 advanced, $25 at the door

Support the Environmental Center of Bend at the sixteenth annual Mountainfilm on Tour. Held at the Tower Theatre, the event will have two nights of film screenings curated by the Mountainfilm Festival that is held in Telluride, Colorado. At intermission there will be a raffle drawing for local prizes.

Weekend Roundup: February 13-17

There are a lot of great events to choose from this weekend, including Oregon WinterFest, plays and opera, films and more.

WINTERFEST
PHOTO COURTESY OF WINTERFEST

Operaganza
February 14 | Aspen Hall, Bend | $75 all inclusive

Central Oregon has a thriving opera community thanks to OperaBend. The annual gala Operaganza is an evening to support the organization, including its 2019 performance of “Don Giovanni,” an opera by Mozart. The evening includes dinner and drinks and entertainment from the upcoming opera season by local opera performers.

Oregon WinterFest
February 15-17 | Old Mill District | $22 advance, $25 at gate

Celebrate the season at Oregon WinterFest. Held at the Old Mill District, this three-day festival includes a marketplace of local businesses, the popular rail jam, firepit and ice sculpting contests, art installations, activities for kids and live music capping off each night. It’s a one-of-a-kind party that everyone can enjoy.

Cascades Theatre presents “The Matchmaker”
Through March 3 | Cascades Theatre | $16-$20

A classic Thornton Wilder play opens this weekend at local company Cascades Theatre. On Thursday, February 14, there will be a special preview screening of “The Matchmaker.” The play follows a wealthy 19th century merchant in New York who decides he wants to get married and employs a matchmaker. It’s a slapstick comedy that will add some fun to your date night.

Backcountry Film Festival
February 17 | Sisters Movie House | $15

Switch up your Sunday night and get tickets for the Backcountry Film Festival. Presented by Discover Your Forest, the films will feature winter adventures and current conservation issues in the area. All the proceeds benefit outdoor education for kids in Central Oregon.

Live Music

On Thursday night, get to McMenamins to see Kendl Winter play banjo based roots music with Joey Cappocia from The Pine Hearts at Father Luke’s Room. If you want to dance, head to Sisters Friday night to for local favorite Dry Canyon Stampede. On Sunday night, Motet with John Medeski’s Mad Skillet takes the stage at Midtown Ballroom.

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