TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! The kids are back at school. The holiday visitors have headed back home. And yet we still have an entire container of cookies left to finish.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

Every month, Deschutes Public Library hosts a series of events centered on a specific theme—something to “know more” about. This January, the theme is TEA, and we invite you to sip and spill the tea with us! Bonus: attend any of our “Know Tea” events in January, and take home a free bag of Reader’s Blend Tea, crafted just for us by Metolius Artisan Tea. It’s the perfect pairing with your favorite book or movie—both things that you can pick up from your library!  

For a list of “Know Tea” events happening this month, visit https://dpl.pub/knowtea (some events require registration). To learn more about tea, from its history to how you can blend your own custom creations, explore our online catalog at https://dpl.pub/tea.  

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Did you know that the Bend-La Pine School District offers a range of school options to meet students' individual needs? These schools do not cost anything extra to attend, and enrollment is determined, in large part, by a lottery. The lottery for the 2026/27 school year opens today and runs through January 23rd for students going into grades 1 - 12 (the kinder lottery runs through March 20). You can learn more about the schools and the lottery process here.

Weren’t able to attend our inaugural dinner club in December (or want to sign up again)? Our second dinner takes place on Wednesday, January 14th, at 6 PM in downtown Bend. Take the quiz, get matched, and come meet some new friends. You can book your seat here.

🖼 Red Chair Gallery closes: Well, this announcement came out of left field. Longtime downtown art gallery Red Chair Gallery announced that Friday, January 2nd, was its last day of business for their store. Gone are the days of wandering through downtown and gandering at the glass fish in the window. You can still peruse the artists featured in the store on their website at redchairgallerybend.com.

📸 @karen_osato_photography |📍Deschutes River
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Healing Your Relationships & Yourself

Kate Keating helps people strengthen their relationships and reconnect with themselves. Many of us carry relational wounds or feel disconnected from who we are, and Kate offers a space that’s both supportive and gently challenging. Her approach is warm, engaged, and thoughtful, with sessions designed to help you feel grounded, understood, and motivated to keep showing up.

Couples therapy: Get unstuck from repetitive patterns. Develop new ways of relating marked by understanding, empathy, and deeper connection. Working with couples is one of the most meaningful parts of Kate’s practice.

Individuals therapy: For adults carrying relational pain, persistent self-criticism, or symptoms of anxiety or depression. Kate will guide you to deepen into yourself in order to live a more expansive life. 

Adolescents therapy: Kate has over a decade of experience supporting preteens and adolescents ages 11-22. Warm, active support for anxiety, identity, relationships, and more.

Kate offers in-person and video sessions in Bend.

📚 Preschool Story Time: A sweet mid-morning program designed for curious kiddos featuring engaging stories, songs, and interactive moments in a museum setting built for exploration. 10:30 AM Deschutes Historical Museum

🎸 Musician’s Open Showcase: Local musicians take the stage to share original songs and fresh interpretations. It’s an easygoing evening for music lovers to discover new talent while supporting Bend’s creative scene. 5 PM Commonwealth Pub

🧵 Sew Club: A laid-back creative meetup for sewists of all levels. Bring your own project or find inspiration from others while stitching, chatting, and creating together. 5:30 PM FREAK’N ART

🌍 Multilingual Monday: Practice speaking different languages in a casual, social setting. Whether you’re fluent or just learning, this community gathering is all about connection, curiosity, and conversation. 5:30 PM Broken Top Bottle Shop

🎤 Sing Your Face Off: A high-energy, anything-goes singalong night where enthusiasm matters more than vocal perfection. Grab the mic, cheer on friends, and embrace the chaos. 6 PM UPP Liquids

🤸 Foundations of Partner Acro: Learn how to base, fly, and spot and develop strength and technique at Tula’s four-week Foundations of Partner Acro class. 6:30 PM Tula

📖 Author Event: Deep Medicine for Trauma: Join author Jane for a thoughtful discussion on trauma healing and overlooked therapeutic approaches, followed by conversation and audience questions in an intimate bookstore setting. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books & Café

✨ Chakra Balancing for the New Year: Begin the year grounded and aligned with a guided chakra balancing experience focused on intention, energy flow, and reflection—set inside one of Bend’s most beautiful spaces. 6:45 PM Historic Hollinshead Barn

🎯 Design Your Life: The Summit Method Goal Setting Workshop: A hands-on workshop designed to help you clarify goals, identify obstacles, and map out meaningful next steps using the Summit Method framework. 5:30 PM Hanai

🎿 BC Nordic 101: Learn the essentials of backcountry Nordic skiing, including gear basics, technique, and safety considerations—perfect for those curious about exploring beyond groomed trails. 7 PM Pine Mountain Sports

💼 Beyond the Logo: Your Personal Brand Blueprint: A practical lunchtime session focused on defining and communicating your personal brand with clarity and confidence, whether you’re job-hunting, freelancing, or building a business. 12 PM Keller Williams

📓 2026 Planning Workshop: Calling all local entrepreneurs and innovators! Level up your business in 2026 with a three-day workshop that will help you step out of the daily fog, dismantle your business like an engineer, and rebuild it as a scalable, efficient system. Led by local entrepreneur Thomas Lebens, this immersive experience will help set your business up for success as we enter the new year. January 20 - 22 Location announced after signup*

💥 Zero for Life: Christa “Cricket” King of Cricket Fixes is launching Zero for Life, a 6-week online mastermind for anyone ready to break free from alcohol without the white-knuckle approach. Built with Dr. Jennifer Rossi, the program blends hypnotherapy, EFT tapping, nervous-system regulation, and science-based nutrition. Join now and save 20% with code BB20 before the 1/26 launch.*

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Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 6 PM
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band | Tower Theater | 7:30 PM | Tickets

Elise Franklin Quartet | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM

🎨 Friday eases you into the weekend with purpose, punchlines, and a little queer joy. Start midday slopeside at Lunch & Learn with Adventure Scientists at Mt. Bachelor—ski culture meets real-world research (yes, learning pairs well with mountain air). As night falls, Dogwood Lounge turns up the love at Dyke Night, a welcoming, high-energy hang that’s all about community, connection, and showing up as you are. If laughs are calling: Next Stop Comedy rolls into Bridge 99 with a tight lineup and fresh jokes, while the night stays loose, social, and very Bend.

🎉 Saturday brings playful brains, bold performances, and a little chaos (the fun kind). Start the morning grounded and community-minded at Creating a CommuniTEA of Fitness or head to The Oxford for a free Music Education Workshop that’s equal parts inspiring and informative. As the afternoon rolls on, creatives can flex their imaginations at Board Game Design Night—where ideas, dice, and friendly debate collide. When evening hits, things get lively fast. Celebrate an icon at the David Bowie Life Celebration Bash (expect glitter, grooves, and deep cuts), roll the dice—literally—at Bunco Blitz at Bevel, take in an evening of piano music by candlelight with Piano Flow Live at Meisser, or catch competitive laughs at Comedy Chaos at Abe Capanna’s East Side.

☀️ Sunday is for reset, reflection, and one big laugh to close it out. Start the day fresh with Sunday Refresh at the base of Cloudchaser—movement, mimosas, and a clean slate feeling. In the afternoon, tune inward at Messages for the Year Ahead at The People’s Apothecary, or stretch it out at Yoga for Hips (your body will thank you). As evening approaches, treat yourself to something indulgent at the Winter Chef’s Pairing Experience—seasonal flavors, thoughtful pours, and cozy winter luxury. Then go big to finish the weekend strong with Adam Ray: WHO IS ME Tour at Midtown Ballroom—fast, fearless comedy that’ll send you into Monday smiling.

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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