🌮 East side taco shop reopens

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Welcome to the inaugural Monday edition of the Bend Buzz. As we mentioned last week, these emails were just getting too darn long as we roll into summer. (Seriously, who has time to read through a 2,000-word email when there are rivers to float and trails to bike?)

This format will give us a little room to spread our wings, try out some new stuff, and start covering Monday events, so make sure to scroll to the bottom of today’s newsletter to check out our new weekend preview & local spotlight section (local jobs will be on Wednesday).

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🌮 El Sancho East is back open for business

• 🛬 Big changes coming to the Redmond airport

• 🐌 A local artist puts the fun back in snail (or slug) mail

Let’s get to it.

— Emily Randolph & Derek Carlson

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SNAPSHOTS

✈️ Big changes coming to the Redmond airport

Travelers headed through RDM are going to notice some big changes to the airport starting in a few weeks. A two-year project that will double the square footage of the boarding areas, restaurants, and shops is set to kick off soon. While you may find yourself walking through shipping containers on your way to the plane (very demur, very mindful), airport officials say that it should have minimal impact on wait times.

🚎 CET try transit week

Good thing we’re sending the Bend Buzz out on a Monday, because that gives us the chance to give you a heads up about Cascade East Transit’s Try Transit Week. This community-wide celebration of public transit kicks off today and runs through Sunday. During the week, you can ride for free on all CET routes, attend fun events to learn more about transit options in Bend, and enter for the chance to win some grocery gift cards. You can check out the full schedule of events here.

🛝 The outdoor pool at Juniper is open for the season (kinda)

Nothing says summer like baking in the sun while your kids splash around at the pool and ride the waterslide for the 539th time. If that’s your jam (it is 100% my kids’ jam), then you’re in luck as the outdoor pool at Juniper is (mostly) open for the season. If the weather is cool (<60 degrees) or rainy, then the pool may not open that day. But come mid-June, it should be on an everyday schedule for the rest of summer.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🖊️ ‘Tis the season for some new ink: Want to get some fresh tattoos to show off on the river this summer? There’s a new spot in town for that. Dark Nouveau Tattoo officially opened for business starting June 1st. They will have four artists on staff for the first few weeks, as well as a few guest artists passing through, so book your appointment now to get on the list. 244 NE Franklin Ave

🌮 El Sancho East is back open: East side fans of Sancho Bowls (that’s me!) rejoice as El Sancho East is officially open for business again starting today! After a fire destroyed their building more than a year ago, a new version of El Sancho has risen from the ashes to deliver us the tacos, margs, and brews that we all need to sustain us through the summer.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @petekphoto |📍Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH FALLING LEAF TREE CARE

Let the Light In ☀️ 

With summer just about here, now’s the perfect time to give your trees a thoughtful trim. Whether you’re trying to get more sun onto your garden beds, reduce fire risk, or simply want your ornamental trees to look their best, Falling Leaf Tree Care offers expert pruning with a personalized touch.

Owner-operated and proudly local, Scott at Falling Leaf specializes in structural pruning, fruit tree care, and even artful shaping that blends function with beauty (think bonsai-level attention without the hedge-trim look).

🌳 Local, skilled, and here to help your trees thrive.
📞 Reach out today to schedule your summer pruning!

Falling Leaf Tree Care, LLC
CCB# 235548
541-241-6239
[email protected]

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 6.2

🎭 Voiceless immersive event: Ever wondered what your voice really says about you? Head to Immersion Brewing’s barrel room for an evening of lecture-meets-group-singing that explores the human voice in all its messy, magical glory. No singing talent required. 5 PM Immersion Brewing Barrel Room 

🚴 Adaptive cycling clinic: Dan Zimmerman—stroke survivor and Spokes Fighting Strokes founder—is cruising into town with 22 trikes in tow and inviting folks of all abilities to hop on and experience the ride that helped him rediscover freedom, confidence, and pure joy after his stroke. 10 AM Pine Nursery

🌲 Queer in Nature: Looking to connect with the LGBTQIA+ community outdoors? Join RootedPresence for a nature walk and intentional time in Shevlin Park. It's gentle, grounding, and a lovely way to end your Monday. 6 PM Shevlin Park 

🎙️ Beertown Comedy Open Mic: Got jokes? Bring ‘em. Want laughs? You’ll find ‘em. This weekly comedy open mic at Silver Moon is kind of a big deal. Sign up and show off your stuff! 7 PM Silver Moon Brewing 

🎤 Whose Live Anyway?: Improv icons Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, and the rest of the Whose Line crew hit the Tower Theatre for a night of on-the-spot hilarity. If you love quick wit and audience interaction, don’t miss it. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

🎶 Public Rock Choir: Sing your heart out with a room full of strangers (soon to be friends). No auditions, no pressure—just belting your face off to some classic rock jams. 6 PM Immersion Barrel Room

Tuesday 6.3

🎲 Dungeons & Dragons: Ever wanted to roll a d20 but don’t know your spell slots from your saving throws? Don’t know what that means, but want to? This beginner-friendly D&D series at the library is here to help you build a character and step into a whole new world. 5:30 PM Downtown Bend Library

💃 Bend Ecstatic Dance: Ditch the shoes and find your groove at this freeform, no-judgment dance party where you can move however you feel. 7:45 PM Boys and Girls Club of Bend 

🧗‍♂️ Queer Climb Night: Whether you're a seasoned climber or just curious to try it out, this inclusive night at The Circuit is all about building community and having a blast on the wall. 6 PM The Circuit Climbing Gym

🌄 Bend 101: Connecting Through the Outdoors: New to Bend? Or just want to meet more like-minded outdoorsy people? This Bend Chamber event breaks the ice and helps you feel right at home. 5:30 PM Open Space Event Studios

🍻 Damn Tasting Series: Deschutes Brewery is rolling out their monthly curated beer tasting series for those who love a deep dive into hops, malt, and good conversation. 8 PM Deschutes Pub 

🏃‍♀️🌈 Pride Color Run with Bend Run Club: Lace up those running shoes and throw on something colorful to kick off Pride week! This special edition run club will be a joyful, rainbow-filled run with good vibes all around. 6:30 PM Lifty’s

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 6.2

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM
The Uncharted Project | On Tap | 6 PM
Pete Kartsounes | Bend Brewing | 6 PM

Tuesday 6.3

Quiet Winter & Brass Jaguar | Silver Moon | 6:30 PM | Tickets

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Another change that going to three days a week allows us to make is to move the weekend preview back into the newsletter. So here are some of the highlights of things happening around town this upcoming Friday through Sunday.

Get ready, Bend — this weekend is jam-packed with Pride, pop-ups, podcasts, and parties. Here's a taste:

🎨 Friday kicks off with the First Friday Art Walk and quirky comedy from The Crazy Happy Silly Funny Nerdy Show at Silver Moon. Feeling spicy? Head to Glitter Nips & Rainbow Bits burlesque at Bunk + Brew.

🌈 Saturday brings Bend Summer Pride to Drake Park (don’t miss the after-party at Silver Moon), plus Bevel’s 6th Anniversary Bash, the Oregon Gin Festival, and more markets than your wallet is ready for.

🎤 Sunday is brunch and laughs: Diva Drag Brunch at Campfire Hotel and The Dollop podcast live at The Tower. Plus, a chill anniversary market from Nature’s Bling.

🎶 Live music all weekend from Mumford & Sons to The Uncharted Project, Watkins Glen, Shine Sweet Moon, and more.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to the last of today’s new weekly additions to the Bend Buzz! Every Monday in this space, we want to highlight a local non-profit, artist, business, or anyone really, who is doing something cool, helpful, and downright awesome for the community.

And what better way to kick it off than with Slug Club? 🐌 (a snail is just a slug with a home, ammirite?) - _{Editor’s note: This is Derek’s bad joke, not Emily’s, so don’t blame her}

What is Slug Club, you might ask? It is the brainchild of local artist Maren Inga as a way to rekindle the joy of getting physical mail. Folks who sign up for Slug Club will receive a monthly envelope with a letter complete with drawings, infographics, and thoughts on the slow times, making friends with plants, and minorly stressful introspections. You’ll also get a sticker!

$50 gets you five illustrated letters (June through October), and Maren agreed to keep her subscription page open for a couple extra days in case any of you wanted to join!

For the little sluggies in your life, there’s also the Little Sluggy Summer Club. Just like the adult version, your little ones will get a monthly letter with a story and a sticker of one of the characters in the story! Once again, these are all written and illustrated by Maren.

_{Want to be in this space next week? Hit reply to this email and let me know!}

THANKS!

Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 11,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]