TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I know I pulled a fast one on April 1st with my outdoor guide, but here’s a little bit of (for real this time) outdoors inside info. We headed out on our first foraging trip of the year over the weekend and found some morel mushrooms popping up way earlier than normal.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

We are less than a month away from fully opening the new Central Library in Bend! This dynamic new library fully opens to the public on Monday, May 11—and the drive-thru is open now for returning books and DVDs, and for picking up holds. You can use the drive-thru to return items 24/7, and can pick up holds Monday–Saturday, noon–6:00 p.m. at the Central Library (61956 SE Santorini Drive, Bend). Visit the library’s website to learn more about using the drive-thru and reserving holds for pick-up at the drive-thru.

The Central Library is the largest library in Deschutes County, with three floors of books (more than 150,000!) and meeting spaces. It also features a diverse range of public art, a Thump Coffee café, a vibrant children’s discovery area, a hands-on MakerSpace, a co-working area, and ample space for sitting and relaxing. Mark your calendars so you can see it for yourself starting May 11!  

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Just like the ski swap serves as our annual reminder that winter is almost here, the Bend Bike Fest does the same for summer adventures on two wheels. This year, the fest will be taking place on April 24 - 26. But why are we telling you this so early if it isn’t happening for two more weeks??? Because registration for the bike swap is open now. If you want to sell that old beach cruiser, full suspension ripper, or any bike in between, online item registration closes on April 21st. You can check out the full details here.

The library shared a bit of info above about the upcoming opening of the new central library, but we figured we should also give you a quick reminder that the downtown library is now fully closed for renovations. The closure will last approximately one year, and all pickups and drop-offs can now be done at the new central library location.

Bend will have no shortage of farmers markets to choose from this year (we’ll have the downtown market on Wednesdays, the Elevation Market on Fridays, the NWX market on Saturdays, and the Worthy Brewing market on Sundays…not to mention other markets in Sunriver, Redmond, and Sisters). And now it’s looking like we might be adding one more to the list. Granted, this just popped up in a local Facebook group, so I don’t have a ton of details, but it looks like there will be a new weekly Tuesday market happening by the Old Mill from mid June to mid July. More details on the market here (this was from a group post on Facebook, so sorry if the link doesn’t work for some folks).

🍷 Flights Wine Bar has a new name: Bistro Colette: I’ve been a little slow with sending out this update (it’s been a busy past week in the Bend business world), so bear with me. A few months back, we shared that Flights Wine Bar had changed hands, and now it has changed names as well. The west side space is now known as Bistro Colette and will begin focusing more on French food and wines.

🍽️ Help get your nutrition dialed: There’s a new way to build a better connection with the food you eat, as Bend local Leslie Schmille has launched a nutrition coaching company. Nutrition by Leslie is aimed at helping local moms break free from food guilt, overeating, and the dieting cycle. You can learn more on her website or IG account.

🥪 Schlotzky’s & Cinnabon close for good: East side combo restaurant Schlotzky’s & Cinnabon closed its doors for good late last week, with a note posted on the door thanking Bend for 30 years of support.

Join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend for their 4^th annual Throwback Prom! This year, they’re taking it back to the roaring 20s with the Great Promsby. Enjoy incredible food from their catering sponsor, Stacks, signature cocktails, dancing, music, and more! 

Be sure to grab a ticket to the speakeasy to try your hand at blackjack or craps and an exclusive drink! Proceeds from the Great Promsby go directly to supporting BGCB’s programming and the youth they serve each year! See you there, it’ll be the cat’s meow. Saturday, April 18th, 7 - 10 PM at BGCB’s historic gym at 500 NW Wall Street

📸 @envirocenterbend |📍Alpenglow Park
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Hey folks, if you need tree work around Bend, Scott’s been a licensed arborist here for over 10 years.

If he looks familiar, you might’ve seen him teaching up at Bachelor—he’s been a ski instructor there for years, too.

He runs Falling Leaf Tree Care, a small family business, and he’s easy to work with, keeps things straightforward, and actually takes the time to figure out what you want. Whether it’s cleaning up a backyard, tackling overgrown trees back under control, or just making your yard easier to manage year-round.

He’s got some openings this month and next, and if you’ve been meaning to get something on the calendar, give him a call for a free estimate.

📞 (541) 241-6239
📧 [email protected]
Falling Leaf Tree Care, LLC · CCB# 235548

🚦 Automated Traffic Enforcement Info Session: Bend's new automated traffic enforcement is coming, and this is your chance to ask the questions you've been muttering at your dashboard. 5:30 PM Bend Municipal Court

🌋 Natural History Pub: McMenamins gets geological for an evening all about the volcanoes sitting in our backyard. Grab a pint and learn why the ground beneath Central Oregon is a lot more interesting and active than it looks. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🤣 Beertown Comedy Open Mic: Test out your new bit in front of Bend’s friendliest crowd (this statement has not been independently verified, so your results may vary). 6:30 PM Silver Moon

🍺 Pints with Profs: Learn about the psychology of change and how 1% improvements can add up over time. 6 PM Bridge 99 Brewing

🧘 EcoNidra: Head over to Hanai for an evening of EcoNidra, which is a gentle and restorative meditation-like practice that guides us back into connection with ourselves and the earth. 6:30 PM Hanai

🎱Bingo with Bren: Bingo night, but make it fun and philanthropic. Join the games, win prizes, and support Family Kitchen while you’re at it. 6 PM Bevel Craft Brewing

🔈 Badass Sound Bath: Step into an empowering experience that blends juicy beats, bold mantras, and a deeply restorative live sound bath. 6:30 PM Continuum Yoga Studio

📚 Library @ Ponderosa Park: The Deschutes Public Library takes it outside for a pop-up at Ponderosa Park. Books, fresh air, and a real taste of spring. 12 PM Ponderosa Park

🎨 Teen Open Art Hours: A free, open creative space for teens at The Open Arts Center. No agenda, no pressure, just art supplies and time to make something. 3 PM The Open Arts Center

👩‍🏫 Central Oregon Educator Job Fair: Schools across Central Oregon gather at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center to meet their next great teachers. Know someone who belongs in a classroom? Send them this way. 2 PM Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

🧑‍🍳 Kitchen Takeover: This week’s kitchen takeover event at Bleu Bite Catering will be led by the head chef of Yoli, Joe Kim. This hands-on class will focus on two of Korea’s most iconic dishes, kimchi and bulgogi. 5:30 PM Bleu Bite Catering

🐿 Wildlife Trivia: Put your Central Oregon wildlife knowledge to the test at Think Wild’s monthly wildlife trivia night. 6 PM The Lot

🧪 Super Science Trivia: Wildlife trivia not your thing? How about science? Here you can test your knowledge of everything quarks, DNA, and the airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow. 7 PM Worthy Brewing

🧵 Sassy Stitches: Channel your rage with some beauty and sass! In this class, you will learn 5 embroidery stitches (straight, stem, wagon wheel rose, French knot, and leaf) to create a sweet floral border around a saucy saying of your choice! 5:30 PM Freak’n Art

🤝 The Science of Connecting in a Lonely World: A timely and deeply needed talk at COCC on the science behind human connection, loneliness, and how we build communities that actually hold people. 6 PM Willie Hall COCC

✍️ Author Event: Leah Altman & Pam Houston: Two incredible writers in one room at Roundabout Books. An evening of storytelling, conversation, and the kind of literary energy that makes you want to go home and read all night. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books & Cafe

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM
Jim Brickman | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets

Suppression | Silver Moon | 6 PM | Tickets
Marshall Crenshaw | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets
Richard Taelor | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM
Chanticleer | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets

Friday:

🌱 Spring Social at Wintercreek Nursery
⛷ RendezVan at Mt. Bachelor
🥾 Steelhead Walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve
👗 Vintage Rendezvous Clothing Popup at Crux
🌍 Earth Day Fashion Show at COCC
🧘 Breathwork, Yoga, & Silent Disco at Tumalo State Park
🏔️ Banff Mountain Film Festival at Tower Theatre

Saturday:

⚡ Let’s Glow Crazy Party at Old St. Francis
🧀 The Art of Cheese at Freak’n Art
🔧 Kids’ Entrepreneur Market at Bend Elks Lodge
🏃‍♂ Salmon Run at Riverbend Park
🛶 Fishing Paddle Craft Showcase at Tumalo Creek Kayak
👗 The Great Promsby at Boys & Girls Club of Bend

Sunday:

🪕 Ukrainian Women’s Folk Trio at Hanai
🩰 Giselle Ballet at MVHS Auditorium
🪩 Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo at Silver Moon

Live Music:

🎸 Curtis Salgado at The Domino Room
🎵 Forty Feet Tall at Silver Moon
🎵 Major Dudes! at Tower Theatre
🎤 Curtis Salgado at The Domino Room

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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