🎄Head to the forest

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Only seven more days until our first dinner club event. Reservations are being made and tables are getting matched. It should be a good time!

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🎄 How to cut your own Christmas tree

• 🍽️ Dinner club is a week away

• 🚚 Food carts on the move

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

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SNAPSHOTS

🎄 How to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

One of the best traditions around Central Oregon is for folks to head out into the wild to procure their own Christmas tree. These trees all have their own…character that you might not find with those perfectly shaped and full trees that are grown on the other side of the pass. Our trees are usually a little scraggly and always have a bare spot that needs to be hidden against a wall. But that’s all just part of the fun.

If you want to cut down your own tree this year, it’s super simple (and will only cost you $5…so long as you don’t get stuck in the snow and need a rescue).

✔️ Head to Recreation.gov to buy your tree permit
✔️ Take a drive into the National Forest land outside of town. Remember to cut trees that are at least 150 feet from main roads, recreation sites, and campgrounds, and 300 feet from streams or other bodies of water
✔️ Strap that puppy to the top of your car and enjoy a mug of hot cocoa and Christmas carols as you make your way back home

🍽️ One Week Away from Our First Dinner Club

The first Bend Buzz dinner club is only ONE week away, and we already have 78 folks signed up! Want to get in on the fun? We still have a few spots left! If this first event is a hit, then we’d love to make it a recurring event going forward.

If you need a little reminder on how this whole thing works. Here it is -

🍽️ Take a quick quiz about your personality, interests, and food preferences.
✨ Get paired with five other Bendites who match your vibe — including dietary needs, budget, and life stage.
📍 Your table of six meets for dinner on Wednesday, December 10 at 6:00 PM, and the restaurant is revealed that morning.
🥂 After dinner, all groups are invited to a casual meetup at a local watering hole.

Want in? Sign up here to get started. 

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🥑 Lively Up Yourself food cart to close: Changes are coming to the carts at Midtown Yacht Club as vegan comfort food spot Lively Up Yourself has announced they will be closing at the end of the year. Head over to their Instagram post to get the whole story and news on who will be stepping in to take over the cart (albeit under a new concept).

🍣 North Fresh Sushi moves to Ponch’s Place: And in other food cart news, North Fresh Sushi has moved their cart from The Bite in Tumalo to Ponch’s Place in NE Bend. There have been quite a few changes at Ponch’s Place recently, so here’s a recap of where they stand now. Their current food truck lineup is North Fresh Sushi, Bend Breakfast Burritos, The Tin Pig, Los Brothers, and Dump City.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @bendoregonwithali |📍The forest
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH SAGE & PINE

✨ Give your home the glow-up it deserves

Olivia and Kelsey have been designing spaces since 2018, and together they’ve built Sage & Pine Design Co. around one core idea: homes should feel warm, natural, and instantly comfortable the moment someone walks in. Whether you're prepping a listing, updating an Airbnb, or refreshing your own space, they know how to create that “this is the one” feeling buyers and guests are looking for.

They offer modern home staging, interior design consults, and Airbnb/rental design that makes properties stand out, sell faster, and photograph beautifully.

Calling all real estate agents: Sage & Pine is offering a special staging promo with a living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen fully staged for $1,500 for the first month.

Want your space to shine?
Reach out at sagepinedesignco.com for your free consultation

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 12.3

🎁 Tetherow Holiday Bazaar: Kick off your midweek with a little shopping stroll at Tetherow. Local makers, festive finds, and just enough sparkle to remind you the holidays are definitely here. 4 PM Tetherow

⛸️ BPRD Winter Registration Info Night: Got winter rec goals? Stop by Larkspur for all the details on Bend Park & Rec’s winter programming. 5 PM Larkspur Community Center

🌿 Holiday Wreath Workshop: Freak’n Art is hosting a wreath-making session with Tracy Curtis of Woodland and Floral, where you’ll build a lush, foraged-forward masterpiece to hang proudly at home. 5:30 PM Freak’n Art

🌲 Oregon’s Wild Public Lands: Join Oregon Wild and photographer Pete Alport at Worthy Brewing for an inspiring deep dive into the beauty, challenges, and future of Oregon’s wild places. Come for the stunning visuals, stay for the conversation, and maybe a pint. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🧘 Yoga & Community Tea: Slow down, stretch out, and connect. This calming session blends mindful movement with a warm post-practice tea gathering. Now that the weather’s turned, the class has shifted from the outdoors into a cozy indoor yurt. 6 PM (Location provided at signup)

🎶 Music Bingo: Test your tune recognition and luck at Portello Lounge’s lively music bingo night. Great food, good drinks, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy fun and friendly. 6:30 PM Portello Lounge

🥾 Snowshoeing in Central Oregon: Thinking about hitting the trails this winter? Get the inside scoop at the library, where local experts break down the best routes, gear tips, safety basics, and hidden-gem winter wanderings. A perfect primer for when the snow finally starts falling. 6:30 PM Downtown Bend Library

🎻 Central Oregon Youth Orchestra Winter Concert: Celebrate the season with an evening of orchestral talent from local young musicians. Heartwarming, uplifting, and perfectly festive. 7 PM Tower Theatre

☕️ Outdoor Industry Coworking & Coffee: Looking to build your network in the outdoor industry? Head over to The Grove for a morning of low-key networking with other folks in the outdoor space. 9 - 11 AM The Grove

Thursday 12.4

🧠 AI & Disinformation: Dive into one of today’s most important topics at this Downtown Bend Library session exploring how AI shapes misinformation—and how to navigate it. A smart, timely conversation for anyone curious about the future of media and tech. 10 AM Downtown Bend Library

🧶 Crochet Café: Settle in for a cozy afternoon of stitching, chatting, and creativity at Fancywork Yarn Shop. Bring your current project or start something new. 1 PM Fancywork Yarn Shop

🌍 Guardians of Life – Indigenous Practices for a Thriving Earth: This powerful Tower Theatre screening explores Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and the stories shaping a healthier planet. Two showtimes to fit your Thursday flow. 3 PM & 7 PM Tower Theatre

❄️ Winter Nights: The High Desert Museum lights up the evening with dancing, cookie decorating, and a dose of seasonal magic. A perfect night out for families—or anyone who loves a little winter sparkle. 4 PM High Desert Museum

💔 Grief Support Group: The holiday season can be a tough time for many folks. Mountain River Counseling is hosting a donation-based weekly grief support group led by an experienced therapist. 4 - 6 PM 20273 Reed Lane

🧵 Holiday Macramé Workshop: Knot your way into the holiday spirit with a cozy macramé session at Freak’n Art. Perfect for gifting…or keeping for yourself (no judgment). 5:15 PM Freak’n Art

🎭 Little Women: The classic tale comes to life at Open Space Event Studios. Expect heartfelt performances, sisterhood, and all the warmth you want from a December evening out. 7 PM Open Space Event Studios

🎤 Karaoke Thursdays: Warm up those vocal cords and take the stage at Bunk + Brew’s weekly karaoke night. Whether you’re belting ballads or leaning into full pop-star energy, it’s all about fun, friends, and fearless singing. 7 PM Bunk + Brew

🎭️ Frozen Jr.: Listen to the next generation of theatre stars belt out your favorite (or, at least, your kids’ favorite) tunes from Frozen at this on-stage production. 7 PM Caldera High School

UPCOMING EVENTS

🕯️ Liminal Library at Pine & Prism: Step into the in-between with Pine & Prism. The Liminal Library returns this month with an expanded lineup of ritual, creativity, and sensory magic. Drop in Friday, December 5th, from 5 – 9 PM for tarot readings, aura photography, mini sound baths, and a build-your-own altar kit and bath sachet bar. Craft a ceramic altar element, enjoy a mini tea ceremony, and receive messages from your spirit guides in a space made for exploration and soft wonder. Friday, December 5th from 5 - 9 PM at Pine & Prism (856 NW Bond St, Suite 202)

🏃‍♀️ Biomechanics of Human Movement: Come get a super approachable crash course in how your body actually moves and why it matters. Kristen Sowalsky, PhD, is leading a one-hour class at Foundation Health & Fitness that breaks down the basics of biomechanics in a way that helps you lift smarter, train harder, and stay on the slopes all winter long (if it ever arrives). Saturday, December 6th at 11 AM at Foundation Health & Fitness

🛻 Overland Gear Bazaar: Want to gear up for next year’s overlanding season and save a few bucks in the process? Oregon Adventure Trucks is holding an Overlanding Gear Bazaar at their shop in NE Bend on Saturday, December 6th, from 10 AM - 3 PM. Here you can meet up with other overlanding fans, save some dough on gear, and enter for the chance to win Nestbox camping kit ($2,500 value). Saturday, December 6th from 10 AM - 3 PM at Oregon Adventure Trucks (62982 18th St)

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LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 12.3

Eric Leadbetter | Crosscut Warming Hut | 6 PM
Haute Melange | Silver Moon | 6 PM | Tickets
Talamh Dubh | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

Thursday 12.4

Piña Colada | River’s Place | 6 PM
Coyote Rider | Stoller Wine Bar | 6 PM
JuJu Eyeball | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
Daring Greatly | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM
Immortal Technique | The Domino Room | 8 PM | Tickets

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

• Community Organizer at Oregon Natural Desert Association

• Information Technology Consultant at OSU-Cascades

• Digital Marketing Strategist at Manski Media

• Bookkeeper at Tower Theatre

• Executive Assistant and Board Clerk at Bend Metro and Park Recreation District

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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