🛎️ Changes at the old post office

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! So long, Summer Fest. Hello, FairWell fest.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🚌 CET launches a new bus route

• 🛎️ A new downtown hotel is one step closer to opening

• 🤝 Paulina Lake Lodge changes hands

Let’s get to it.

— Emily Randolph & Derek Carlson

SPONSORED BY RYAN WALKER STATE FARM

Is Your Summer Covered? ☀️ 🚤 🔥 

Summer in Bend means sunshine, road trips, and outdoor adventures, but have you checked if your insurance is ready for the season?

⛺️ Headed camping? Your gear might be covered under your home or renters policy.
🌊 Boating, jet skiing, or paddling? Many water toys need special coverage to stay protected.
🚗 Planning a road trip? Make sure your auto policy includes roadside help and rental car coverage for unexpected detours.
🍔 Hosting backyard BBQs? Liability coverage helps protect you if a guest gets hurt on your property.

At Ryan Walker State Farm, we’re here to help you enjoy every moment of summer in Central Oregon without worry. Let’s make sure your adventures are safe, fun, and fully protected!

Call us at 541-640-8080 or visit mybendinsurance.com to connect with our team and enjoy your summer with confidence! 😎 🌻 🏖️ 

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

SNAPSHOTS

🗳️CET launches a new bus route

Cascades East Transit is launching a new pilot route today that will make it easier for folks to get from NE Bend and Hawthorne Station to the Cascade Village Shopping Center. The new route will be known as Route 8 and will include stops along Cooley Rd, Empire, 18th St, Brinson Blvd, and Boyd Acres before heading to Hawthorne Station and the shopping center. Since this is a pilot project, your feedback matters, so let them know what you think about the new route!

📬️ Old Bend Post Office’s transformation is nearly complete

Wondering what all the construction hubbub is at the old Bend post office building at the corner of Wall & Franklin? Well, the wait is almost over as the building’s transformation into The Westman, a new boutique hotel, is nearly complete. Want to be one of the first ones to stay in the new space? Reservations are open now.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🤝 Paulina Lake Lodge has new owners: It’s been a big year for remote lodges changing hands around the high desert, with Elk Lake Lodge and now Paulina Lake Lodge passing the reins on to new owners. The lodge’s new owners pledge to keep the rustic charm in place while making some upgrades, including more dining, recreation, and lodging options.

🍕 Blind Tiger closes their food cart at Crux: If your kid’s favorite summer activity is to run around on the lawn at Crux and munch on slices of pizza, then you’d better sit them down before breaking this news to them. Blind Tiger announced they are closing their pizza cart. There is no word yet on whether another pizza option will pick up the slack.

🎉 Portello’s Anniversary Fest: Portello Wine & Spirits is celebrating its one-year anniversary with an entire week of celebrations. Expect live music, bingo, retro parties, and more. If you want to stop by, make sure to check out the full schedule of events on their website.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @tumalolavender |📍Tumalo Lavender
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TOGETHER WITH SWIM ON DECK

🏊‍♀️ Skip the Waitlist and get Your Kids Swimming with Swim On Deck!

Tired of refreshing your browser, trying to snag a swim lesson spot in Bend? Swim On Deck offers private, semi-private, and small group lessons (max 4 swimmers) taught by former D1 athlete and trained swim coach Kristyn Deckard at the indoor pool at The Riverhouse Lodge.

Kristyn brings over a decade of experience coaching everyone from water-shy toddlers to Team USA athletes. Lessons are held Monday through Friday, 8–11 AM, and you choose the days that work best for your schedule.

✅ Ages 6 months and up
✅ Spots available now
✅ Flexible scheduling

Whether your child is learning to float or mastering their butterfly, this is high-level instruction in a low-stress setting. Kristyn even offers private adult lessons for anyone from first-time swimmers to competitive triathletes looking to refine their technique.

 Spots are limited and go fast, so book your lessons today

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 7.14

🧠 Monday Night Trivia: Put those brains to work with another round of Monday night trivia from Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia. 6:30 PM Bridge 99 Brewery

🦎 Herpetology Walk: Calling all reptile and amphibian enthusiasts (or anyone who’s ever said “cool, a snake!”). Join a Forest Service naturalist for a creature-spotting stroll. 8:30 AM Benham Falls East Trailhead

🖼️ Picture Frame Workshop: Time to finally frame that thing that’s been sitting in your closet since 2017. Learn woodworking basics and go home with something gallery-worthy in this all-new DIY workshop! 6 PM DIYcave

🌲 Big Lawn Series: Live music and cocktails by the lake? Yes, please. Head to the Suttle Lodge for your Monday night summer fix. 6 PM Suttle Lake Lodge

🎨 Art Above Everything: Why do artists live and breathe their craft? Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest dishes on passion, purpose, and the wild ride of the creative life in this multimedia talk inspired by her new memoir. Raw, real, and super inspiring. 6 PM Downtown Bend Library

⛺️ Camp Kinder: Just because your little one isn’t quite old enough for big kids’ camp yet doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the camp fun. Join the East Bend Library for a morning of camp-themed activities. 2 PM East Bend Library

Tuesday 7.15

🧗 BEA Climbing Open House: Have a young’n that might be interested in climbing? Let them give it a shot at Bend Endurance Academy’s open house, where they can climb for free, meet the coaches, and tour the facility. 3 - 7 PM Bend Endurance Academy

🚴‍♀️ Advanced Gravel Skills Clinic: Ready to take your gravel riding to the next level? Tight turns, cornering, and control—like spin class, but dusty. 5 PM Cog Wild

🌟 Emerging Talent Social: A networking mixer for the rising stars of Bend. Bring your business card, your dream, and your best small-talk game. 5 PM UPP Liquids Barrel Room

🔮 Awaken Your Psychic Gifts: Been having “weird vibes”? This intuition activation workshop is here to help you harness your inner knowing—or at least figure out what that dream meant. 6 PM The People’s Apothecary

🧗‍♀️ Ladies’ Climb Night: Grab your chalk bag and your girl gang. This monthly meetup is all about crushing routes and making friends—no boys, no pressure. 6:30 PM Bend Rock Gym

📚 Super Summer Storytime: Stories, songs, and rhymes in both Spanish and English—this bilingual storytime is all about building early literacy, emotional smarts, and strong family vibes. 12 PM Downtown Bend Library

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 7.14

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM
Pete Kartsounes | Bend Brewing Co. | 6 PM

Tuesday 7.15

Garrison Keillor | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Ac Sapphire & Guests | Silver Moon | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Adam Carlson | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM
Alicia Viani Trio | GoodLife Brewing | 5:30 PM 
Rachel Fishman | Portello Wine & Spirits | 6 PM

WEEKEND PREVIEW

🍷 Friday is peak summer vibes: Kick things off at Cork & Barrel’s Sip event with wine and bites or make your way up to the fairgrounds for night one of the FairWell Festival. Feeling fast (or just silly)? Join the Chicken Chase at Silver Moon. Yes, it's a race, and yes, costumes are encouraged. If deep thoughts are more your vibe, Unbroken Voices shares powerful, immersive stories that’ll stick with you. Get a healthy dose of belly laughs with Jerry Seinfeld at Hayden Homes and dance like nobody’s watching at Portello’s Retro Dance Party. Because… they probably are. 💃🕺

🚴 Saturday is for getting your hands dirty (or your tires): Wander through Bend’s best backyard gems during the High Desert Garden Tour, take in the Summer Sunset Picnic at Tumalo Lavender, or give back at a Forest Cleanup in the Deschutes. Looking to level up your riding? GRIT Clinics’ Women’s MTB Series has you covered. Prefer cars over pedaling? Head to the Old Mill for the Classic Cruz car show.

💃 Sunday = chill mode + community: Start off strong with a jog + java combo with the CORK Mom Squad at Sisters Coffee. Vintage hunters, don’t miss Resellers Row at Dogwood for one-of-a-kind gems. Feeling active? Cruise over to Roll with Board House Society or skate your heart out at Family Skate & Skatepark Day at The Pavilion. Wheels, deals, and chill vibes all day.

🎶 Live Music: Tunes for every taste this weekend—from ska-punk legends Mephiskapheles to the bluegrass brilliance of The Fretliners, and the cosmic hip-hop of Deltron 3030. Catch Watkins Glen, Lady Strange, Jesse Roper, and more lighting up stages all over town. Whether you’re grooving at Silver Moon, chilling at River’s Place, or getting classy at the Tower Theatre, it’s a vibe-heavy weekend in Bend.

UPCOMING EVENTS

🚌 Arrive at the FairWell Fest in style: Get ready for one of the biggest events of the summer as the FairWell Fest kicks off this weekend at the fairgrounds. And what better way to get there than on an air-conditioned, luxury bus where they handle the driving and you handle the dancing. Bend Party Bus is offering pickup and drop-off service for the festival on their charter bus, which includes bathrooms, movies, and BYOB to get the party started right.

Reserve your seat now for their twice-daily pickup and dropoffs from the Cascade Village Shopping Center:
✔️ July 18^th - 12 pm & 3 pm (Return 10:20 pm)
✔️ July 19^th - 12 pm & 3 pm (Return 11:20 pm)

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THANKS!

Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

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