TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I saw a lot of you all buying some pretty hefty tomato plants at Costco the past few days…just a reminder that, despite our recent warm weather, we still live in Central Oregon, and I’d be willing to put down a few bucks that we wake up to a hard frost or snow at least one more time this spring.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

Elevate your next gathering at Kiln
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Kiln is now booking our premium event spaces! From intentional design to high-end tech, we have the perfect backdrop for your next milestone.

Let’s get your event on the calendar: Inquire here!

Pro Tip: If you’ve been looking for a dedicated home base, act fast! Club and Resident Desk membership pricing will increase on May 1. Lock in your membership now to snag the best rates.

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Mt. Bachelor has announced the last day of winter activities on the mountain, and it’s soon! Next weekend, the mountain will be hosting the RendezVan party, and the last day for lift-served access will be Sunday, April 19th. After that, they’ll begin the process of transitioning over to biking, ziplining, and all the other summer fun that the mountain offers.

Also, I hope the folks who signed up for the downhill or xc ski legs of Pole Pedal Paddle are excited about doing some running…

A few weeks back, we shared that Crux would be shutting down its lawn space for a bit as it goes under the knife for renovations. I made a joke about them installing a playground aaaaaaand maybe they took that joke a little too seriously because the latest update includes a note about a dedicated kids’ play area. You can see more about the updates here.

Lotta business updates to roll through today, so I’ll try to keep them concise!

🎮 Arcade grand opening at The Capitol: Bend just got a little more fun as The Capitol opens its brand new arcade! Doors open at 3 PM on Saturday, and it will be family-friendly until 8 PM. After that, you can enjoy some adult-only gaming fun. 3 PM The Capitol

🎒 Portland Gear to open at the Old Mill: An iconic Oregon brand is expanding outside of Portland, as Portland Gear will be opening a shop in the Old Mill later this spring. They’ll be bringing their lineup of clothing and travel gear to the space previously occupied by Wild Child and hope to open by Memorial Day.

🌮 The Cantina at Wandering Ranchero opens: One of Bend’s hottest taco spots, Wandering Ranchero (their breakfast tacos are seriously addictive), is growing…kinda. Starting this weekend, they’ll be transforming the Palate Coffee space into an evening cantina. Here you can enjoy their evening taco menu, cold beer, and rotating dessert specials. Swing by Thursday - Saturdays from 5 - 10 PM.

🍻 On Tap 8th anniversary celebration: And now a few celebration events for businesses that have been around the sun a few times. On Tap is celebrating their 8th anniversary with a weekend full of fun. There will be live music, donut popups (Oh My Goodness donuts will be there…IYKYK), Brim Bar popup, special beer collabs, and more! Swing by, say congrats, and enjoy the fun.

🎉 Barre3 16th anniversary party: Think 8 years is a long time in business? Fitness spot Barre3 is celebrating their 16th(!!!) anniversary with a party on Friday evening. From 6-8 PM at UPP Liquids’ Barrel Room, they’ll have hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and drinks.

📸 @alexsreininger |📍Mt. Bachelor
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

Howdy, I'm Gwen. Lifestyle photographer for families and brands.

The best photos happen when you feel confident, relaxed, and fully present. With over 16 years behind the camera, I bring a sense of calm and an eye for detail to every session. Whether it’s a family milestone, a senior portrait, or a personal branding session for your small business, my goal is to capture the heart of who you are.

On Saturday, May 2, I'll be hosting Mother's Day Mini Sessions at Pine & Prism's downtown collective, featuring a dreamy, lush floral installation from Summer Robbins Flowers. The perfect gift for the mom who deserves more than a card.

Bookings are live → Mother's Day Mini Sessions

See my work → gwenshoemaker.com

🎭 Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet: Miss the sold-out shows at the Greenhouse Cabaret last weekend? The show goes on with performances happening on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 7:30 PM Greenhouse Cabaret

📚 Nonfiction Book Club: Kick off your Friday morning with good reads and good conversation at Roundabout Books. 9 AM Roundabout Books

🎿 Quatro Snowboard & Ski Competition: A ski and snowboard competition outside Volcanic Theatre Pub, wait, what? The mountain may not have much snow, but there’ll be plenty on the step-down quarter pipe. 6 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub (Century Center)

😂 We're Not Worthy Comedy: Stand-up comedy at Worthy Brewing Eastside. A great Friday night combination of laughs and cold beer. 7 PM Worthy Brewing

💿 It's a 2000s Party: Low-rise jeans, flip phones, and absolute chaos at Midtown Ballroom. If you know all the words to Yeah! by Usher, this is your night. 9 PM Midtown Ballroom

🧠 Head Games Trivia: What’s better than a night of trivia questions while sipping some of the valley’s finest pinots? 6:30 PM Stoller Wine Bar

🥏 Ultimate Frisbee: Think ultimate frisbee is only happening on college campuses between classes? Think again. Teams from across the PNW and from as far away as Alaska will be convening in Bend for the Gandyland Ultimate Frisbee tournament happening all weekend. Saturday & Sunday at Big Sky Park

🎣 Trout Bum Fly Swap: Fly fishers gather at Fly & Field Outfitters to swap flies, trade secrets, and talk fish on both Saturday and Sunday. A beautiful way to start the weekend and get excited for spring fishin’. 8 AM - 4 PM Fly & Field Outfitters

🎹 The Maestro at the Piano: The Sunriver Music Fest is kicking off their season with a performance by Maestro Brett Mitchell. 3 PM Sunriver Christian Fellowship

🐾 Hungry Hound's Second Saturday: Bring your dog, grab a pint, and hang out with a bunch of other people who also brought their dogs. Greg's Grill, good beer, good pups. 12 PM Greg's Grill

🍺 Bend Brewing Masters Party: The Masters is on, the beer is cold, and Bend Brewing is throwing a proper watch party. Golf, brews, and a Saturday afternoon well spent. 12 PM Bend Brewing

💃 Permission to Dance Prom: The second annual Permission to Dance Prom brings together individuals with special needs for a night of dancing, new friendships, and pure joy. Live DJ, dance floor, photo booth, appetizers and desserts—everything a perfect prom night deserves. One of those events that reminds you exactly what community is for. 5 PM The Riverhouse

🎵 Rocky Mountain High Experience: Take Me Home, Country Roads at the Tower Theatre with a full tribute to the legend himself. Bring tissues and your best sing-along voice. 3 PM Tower Theatre

😂 Comedy at Craft: Another Saturday night of stand-up at Craft Kitchen. Laughs, beer, repeat. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🍽️ Eat Me: Got an appetite for the alluring? Bend Burlesque Company serves up a full course of food-themed burlesque with intimate indulgences, pole performances, delectable duets, and solo slays that'll leave you asking for seconds. 8 PM Silver Moon

🌙 Atrevete Noche Latina: A Latin night at Los Andes Sports Bar & Cafe — dancing, music, and serious energy to close out the weekend right. 9 PM Los Andes Sports Bar & Cafe

🌻 Botany Arts & Crafts: Join the High Desert chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon for a day of botany-inspired art. 1 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🗑 Public Lands Stewards Cleanup: The China Hat area has been closed for the past year for fuels reduction and cleanup, but there is still work to be done. Pitch in to help make our wild lands a place that everyone can enjoy. 9 AM China Hat Rd

🔧 Trailside Maintenance Clinic: Learn how to fix your bike on the trail so you're never stuck out there with a problem and no solution. Pine Mountain Sports delivers the skills, you bring the curiosity. 2 PM Pine Mountain Sports

🎶 BeLoud, BeLoved, BeLonging: Composer Andy Akiho and the acclaimed Imani Winds come to the Tower Theatre for an evening of contemporary classical music that's as emotionally powerful as the title suggests. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

⚽ La Copa del High Desert: See which local college is the best (at soccer) as students from COCC and OSU-Cascades face off in a friendly competition on the pitch. 10:30 AM COCC-Mazama Field

🚲 Bike for Stratton: Come celebrate the life of late local biker/snowboarder Stratton Matteson with a group bike ride and celebration. 5 PM Miller’s Landing Park

🏃 Bend Marathon: In really, really good shape and looking for an excuse to run 26 miles (aren’t we all??), then hop in and join the Bend Marathon as it makes its way through the city. Not in the race? Watch for runners as they cross streets around town. 7 AM Old Mill District

🏃 Peterson Ridge Rumble: Lace up those trail shoes and get ready to rumble in Sisters at this always-a-good-time trail race. You’ll have your pick of distances with a 40-miler, 20-miler, and marathon (they all sound painful!). 7 AM Sisters

James Townsend | The Cellar | 6 PM 
Austin Scott Brown | The Commonwealth Pub | 6 PM
Eric Leadbetter | Portello Lounge | 6:30 PM
The Critical Blues Band | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Minka & TEB | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
That 90’s Band | McMenamins | 7 PM | Tickets
Champagne Drip | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 8 PM | Tickets
Piña Colada | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM

Coyote Rider | Stoller Wine Bar | 5 PM
The Positive Side | Boneyard Pub | 6 PM
Kurt Silva & Cynthia West | Portello Lounge | 6:30 PM
Trickster’s Debut | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
The Hasbens | Domino Room | 7 PM | Tickets
Satsang | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 8 PM | Tickets
The Desert Howlers | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM
Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra | MVHS | 7:30 PM

Shineola | The Commonwealth Pub | 4 PM
Eric Ledbetter | River’s Place | 5 PM
Nat Lefkoff | Silver Moon | 6:30 PM | Tickets
Dan Mangan | Domino Room | 7:30 PM | Tickets

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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