🎉 A huge milestone for the Bend Buzz

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Over the weekend, the Bend Buzz hit 10,000 subscribers, and I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to follow this now not-so-little newsletter! 🎉

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🚲️ Get those bikes registered for the bike swap

• 🍔 Lucky’s Woodsman is back in Bend

• 👷 Another round of job postings

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SPONSORED BY RYAN WALKER STATE FARM

Easter has come and gone, and the sunny days are finally starting to show up 🌷☀️ 

Spring is officially here, which means fresh starts, longer days, and maybe even a little motivation to check off those “grown-up” to-dos. Like giving your insurance a once-over. 😉 

We’re here to help make that part easy! Honest advice, helpful service, and coverage that actually makes sense for your life. But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what a recent customer had to say:

Ready for a smoother season? We’re just a call or click away.

📞 541-640-8080 | mybendinsurance.com

_{Interested in featuring your business in our next ad spot? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!}

SNAPSHOTS

🚲️ Register for the bike swap

Central Oregon’s biggest bike swap is happening this weekend, and if you want to include your gear in the swap, the deadline to register is TODAY at 9 PM. Items must be in safe working condition and can be dropped off on Friday afternoon at The Pavilion. Proceeds from the bike swap go towards the Bend Endurance Academy.

🌎️ Volunteer at the Earth Day Celebration

The Earth Day fair is taking place on Saturday, April 26th, at the Bend Environmental Center, and they still need a few more volunteers to help things run smoothly. One lucky volunteer may even get the honor of taking on the role as the Fair Guardian! Sign up here if you’re interested in volunteering.

🎨 The Open Arts Center needs your help

The Open Arts Center is a project aimed at providing a creative hub for teens in Central Oregon with free after-school programs, mentorship, and community for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodiverse, and underserved youth ages 12–18, along with working artist studios and hosting community workshops. The folks behind the project, Claire and Maija, have found the perfect location to make this dream a reality and are seeking donors, partners, or sponsors to help secure the space and build it out. Want to help? Check out the details below to learn more!

💛 Learn more, donate, or connect: www.theopenartscenter.org
📍 Proposed location: 999 NE 2nd St, Bend
✉️ Checks can be mailed to: The Open Arts Center, 1015 NE Marion Pl, Bend, OR 97701

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

⚕️ South side Rite Aid store closing: For anyone who has visited a Rite Aid store in Bend lately, you may have been shocked by the empty shelves and left wondering if the company’s days were numbered. If so, it turns out you were half right, as the store on the south end of town will be closing and consolidating its business to the remaining north end location.

🌮 A new Tex-Mex style food truck opens at Crosscut: Crosscut Warming Hut is now home to a new Tex-Mex food truck (it replaces Eight Hands Sandos). The menu includes all your Tex-Mex favorites like chips & queso, fajitas, tacos, and nachos. You can check out the full menu here.

🚚 Luckey’s Woodsman is back in Bend: Luckey’s Woodsman, the outdoorsy-themed food truck/restaurant that was previously located in Bend and then set up a brick and mortar in Sisters, is back in town (the Sisters location is still there, too). They will be opening their window on Thursday at 2 PM for a soft opening. You can find them next to the Ale Apothecary, so make sure to stop by and say hi.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @graciebirkphoto |📍Smith Rock State Park
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH TRINITY BY GRACE

🧺 Celebrating Love in Style

Whether you're planning a surprise date night, a memorable anniversary, or a picture-perfect proposal, Trinity by Grace takes the stress out of creating something truly special. Our luxury picnics are thoughtfully curated with elegant florals, cozy seating, stylish decor, and an engaging couples’ booklet designed to deepen intimacy.

You choose your location (we’ve got plenty of recommendations), and we’ll handle the rest—set up, clean up, and every detail in between.  All you have to do is show up, relax, and reconnect with your loved ones.

✨ Perfect for proposals, anniversaries, date nights, birthdays & more
📍 Serving Bend and beyond
📸 Instagram: @Trinitybygrace
💐 Mention The Bend Buzz and receive 10% off your booking!

Ready to plan something unforgettable? Reach out today to book your luxury picnic!

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Tuesday 4.22

🌬️ Renewable energy exhibit opens: A new hands-on renewable energy exhibit opens at the High Desert Museum. This is your chance to get an up-close look at the technology that helps power our everyday lives. 9 AM - 5 PM High Desert Museum

🌍️ Earth Day open house: Join the Hanai Center for a special Earth Day open house. Events include a self-guided nature walk, Reiki, art, mandala painting experience, and an Earth Song sound bath. 4 - 7 PM Hanai Center

🍽️ Lunch and learn: Join Bend Parks and Rec for a lunch and learn session with Clark Pederson of the Bend Genealogical Society. Here you will learn how to research your family tree and share your story with your descendants. 12 - 1:30 PM Larkspur Community Center

🖼️ Art & poetry: Join the Deschutes Library at the Peterson Art Gallery for an evening of art and poetry. Let the art serve as inspiration as you write your own poetry. Free, but registration is required. 5:30 - 6:30 PM Peterson Art Gallery

📙 Family story time: Bring your tiny tots to the East Bend library for a morning of stories, songs, and rhymes. 9:30 AM East Bend Library

Wednesday 4.23

🧶 Beginner crochet lessons: Ever wanted to learn how to crochet your own mini plushie in a fun, group environment? Mara from Mara Crochets Minis will teach you how at this beginner crochet class, where, at the end, you’ll go home with an adorable whale plushie. April 23 & 24 @ 5 - 8 PM ISoMiMo

☕️ Women’s networking and coffee: Join the crew from Celebrate n Elevate for a women’s networking event. Enjoy coffee and a light breakfast with like-minded women. 9 - 10:30 AM Tetherow Golf Club

👩‍💼 Women in business quarterly connect: Do you own your business but want to learn about what it takes to grow it to the next level? Deschutes Women in Business is hosting a quarterly connect where you can learn from three powerhouse women in business about how they’ve scaled their companies. 4 - 6:30 PM Open Space Event Studios

🚵 Wednesday trail rides: Looking for a weekly, low-key group trail ride that includes time for some parking lot brews and community building at the end? Join the inaugural lap this week at Phil’s with a 12-mile, after-work loop. 5:30 PM Phil’s Trailhead

🚶 30th anniversary hike: The Deschutes Land Trust is hosting folks at their flagship preserve, Whychus Canyon Preserve, for a hike to celebrate its 30th anniversary. This is a moderate, 4-mile hike with 150 feet of elevation gain/loss. Bring water, proper footwear, and snacks. 5:30 - 7:30 PM Location announced after registration

🪖 COVO stand down & resource fair: Central Oregon Veterans Outreach is hosting a free event providing lunch and access to services for veterans and anyone else in need of support. 9 AM - 2 PM Bend Elks Lodge

Thursday 4.24

🎭️ Shakespeare in Love: The Summit High School Theatre is kicking off their weekend of showings with the production Shakespeare in Love. Performances take place daily today through Sunday, so grab those tickets now and show your support for the arts in the high desert. 7 PM Summit High School

🎵 Goose listening party: Come listen to Goose’s newest album with fellow Gooseheads at Fire on the Mountain. There will be giveaways, plenty of time to jam to new tunes, and, of course, food and drink from Fire on the Mountain. 6 PM Fire on the Mountain

🧑‍💼 Emerging talent summit: Join the Bend Chamber at the Emerging Talent summit, where you can network, learn from business leaders, and take your business to new heights in 2025. 12:30 - 6:30 PM Tower Theatre

🍺 April pub talk: This month’s pub talk, hosted by EDCO, will focus on the world of outdoor business. Network, enjoy a pint or two, and hear from the founders of local outdoor-oriented businesses. 4:30 - 7:30 PM Worthy Brewing

❓️ Trivia at Ponch’s Place: Put your trivia knowledge to the test. 6 PM Ponch’s Place

Weekend Event Preview

Ready to start looking forward to the weekend? Here’s your event preview to get you started.

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday 4.22

Soft Palms & Chiggi Momo | Silver Moon Brewing | 7 PM | Tickets

Wednesday 4.23

That 90’s Band | Old St. Francis School | 6 PM
Portland Cello Project | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Upon A Burning Body | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets
Anthony Frijia | Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM
Flamy Grant | Silver Moon Brewing | 6 PM | Tickets
Finnish Postcard, Batwave, & -ether | Silver Moon Brewing | 7 PM
Sidney Joseph | Crosscut Warming Hut | 6 PM
Danger Gently | The Cellar | 6 PM

Thursday 4.24

Coyote Rider | River’s Place | 6 PM
Melange a Trois | Bar Rio | 6 PM
Bill Powers | Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM
The Bunkhouse Two | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
Ben Johnson | The Lot | 6 PM
Creed Fisher | Domino Room | 8 PM | Tickets

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

• Baker at Deschutes Brewery

• Transportation Mobility Programs Manager at City of Bend

• Admissions Advisor at OSU-Cascades

• Market Development Manager at Generac

• Front of House Server at Yokocho Izakaya

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay cool-ish, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 10,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]