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Good morning, Bend! I don’t want to jinx things, but so far this weather has been about as perfect as it can get for summer in Bend. I hope everyone is able to get outside and soak it up!

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

Want a look inside Bend's newest swim school?

I drove out to the north side this week to check on the progress at SafeSplash Swim School, and things are really coming together. The pool is in, the building is taking shape, and you can start to picture what lesson day is going to look like. Take the tour with me here →

If you're new to the SafeSplash story, here's the recap. They offer small group, private, and semi-private lessons for every age and skill level, from babies as young as 6 months to competitive swimmers working on stroke technique, plus adult learn-to-swim. Certified instructors, small class sizes, and a brand new purpose-built facility.

🏊‍♀️ Now enrolling. Opening early September.

Learn more and sign up here →

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Ever found yourself wondering what happy hours are happening around town on any given evening? Well, now you no longer have to just wonder, as a local has built a website rounding up all the happy hour specials in Bend. You can toggle between food or drink specials and sort by soonest or cheapest. Check it out here.

I’ve had an idea rattling around my head for a bit and want to see if anyone else would be interested. I really like the idea of casual neighborhood meetups. One where you have an excuse to meet your neighbors over a popsicle or cold drink in your front yard without the expectation of staying for dinner or some other big commitment.

So here’s what I’m thinking. We plan a date in August, and folks can sign up to be host houses. Hopefully, we can spread out a bit to include neighborhoods all over town. These folks will hand out a few dozen invitations to their neighbors, inviting them to come by and hang out in their front yard on that date from 3 - 5 PM. No pressure, folks can hang for 5 minutes or the full two hours, their choice.

I’ll see if I can bring in a sponsor or two to cover the costs for the flyers and maybe throw in some popsicles or a few cans of kombucha.

These would take place at the same time all over Bend, and we can give it a fancy name like Hello Neighbor or something (send me your ideas, please).

If you’re interested in hosting, please hit reply to this email and let me know. If we get enough folks, I can get the ball rolling on making this happen.

Want to take part in one of the biggest pickleball tournaments in the PNW? The Pacific Northwest Classic is taking place at Pine Nursery later this month, and player signups close on July 12th. So grab those paddles, tape up those ankles, and get ready to hit the courts!

🥐 Maison Kokoro moving into old Red Chair Gallery Space: Pika Pika is expanding…kinda. The owners of Pika Pika will be expanding into the old Red Chair Gallery space to launch a cafe featuring their Japanese/French-inspired bakery Maison Kokoro. They hope to open the new space by late fall. But in the meantime, if you haven’t tried these delicious pastries yet, I’d highly recommend stopping by one of their pop-ups at the NWX farmers market.

🍻 Costco to end partnership with Deschutes: For the last two years, you could pick up some tasty Kirkland brand beer at Costco that was brewed right here in Bend. Kirkland’s Helles Lager and Vintage Ale were both brewed by Deschutes Brewing, but production is winding down starting this month.

📸 @ackrob | 📍Sparks Lake
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Our Truths

Bend has no shortage of Med Spas—and that’s a good thing. But with so many options, finding the right provider can feel overwhelming. 

At Salt, our practice is built on three simple truths: Less. No. Minimal. 

We aren't about drastic changes or pushing extra product; instead, we focus on subtle enhancements for maximum confidence. 

Whether you’re exploring medical aesthetics for the first time or looking for a practice that truly feels like home for your skin health, we invite you to read our truths. 

If our approach resonates with you, we would love to meet you!

🐴 High Desert Classics: Central Oregon’s annual horse show is back starting today! Grab a spot at a table for the Grand Prix dinner or just hang out and enjoy the action (entry is free). Daily through Sunday at 8 AM J Bar J Ranch

🚴 Summer Crit Series: Are you the quickest biker in town? Put that brag to the test at the summer crit series. And, as always, kids’ entries are free. 5 PM Pacific Crest Middle School

🧠 WTF Trivia: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the brainiest of them all? Think it’s you? Put your money where your mouth is with Prost’s weekly trivia night hosted by Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia. 7 PM Prost!

🌿 Weed Warriors: Join the Deschutes Land Trust for a morning of hands-on habitat restoration at Indian Ford Meadow Preserve. 9 AM Indian Ford Meadow Preserve

🐛 Nature Kids: Get your kids outside and learning about the nature and wildlife that surrounds us. These events are always 100% free! 9:30 AM Alpenglow Park

🧺 Downtown Farmers Market: It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for the downtown farmers market. Stop by to stock up on your produce for the week and support your local farmers while you’re at it. 11 AM Brooks Alley

🌊 Rapid Progression Whitewater Kayak Session: Level up your kayak skills on the water with Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe. 5 PM Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

🧵 Sewing Machine 101: Learn the basics of the sewing machine at The Open Arts Center. 5:30 PM The Open Arts Center

🌎 Tiny Worlds & Meaningful Conversations: A creative and connective evening at TEAL built around miniature worlds and the big conversations they inspire. 4:30 PM Bend Tea & Art Lounge

😂 $5 Comedy Night: Five dollars. Silver Moon. Stand-up comedy. The best deal on a Wednesday night in Bend. 7:30 PM Silver Moon

🦇 Bat Walk Wednesday: The High Desert Museum leads a twilight bat walk where you will learn about these misunderstood nocturnal creatures as they emerge for the evening. 8:30 PM High Desert Museum

🪨 Rocks from Space: This month’s Bend Astronomy Club meetup is talking about all things rocks from space. Come learn about the meteorites that make it to Earth’s surface, and you can even see a few in real life! 6 PM COCC Middleton Science Center, Room 230

🌱 Seed Library: Grab free seeds and share some with the community at the Deschutes Public Library's seed library. 1 PM Central Library

🎵 Munch & Music: Another Thursday evening of live music and food at Drake Park. This week’s headliner is The Original Wailers. 5 PM Drake Park

🚵‍♀️ Lady Laps at Mt. Bachelor: Women take the bike park for dedicated Lady Laps for a supportive, stoke-filled Thursday afternoon on the mountain. 4 PM Mt. Bachelor

🎿 July Passholder Party: Mt. Bachelor celebrates 26/27 passholders at the Deschutes Brewery Beer Garden. First 200 to show get a drink on the house and a sweet cooler bag to keep those post-lap brews cold. 5 PM Deschutes Brewery Beer Garden

🐦 Birders' Night: Eco-birding meets technology as Kaly Adkins presents on tracking Lewis's Woodpecker migration using Motus technology at Worthy Brewing. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🌍 Summer Action Night: Join the Environmental Center at The Commons for a night of learning how to turn environmental concern into meaningful action. 4:30 PM The Commons Cafe

🍖 Chillin' & Grillin': Sunriver Brewing's summer patio event is back! You can sample new beer, chat with the brewers, and enjoy fancy grillables and live music. 5 PM Sunriver Eastside

🏃 Ladies’ Group Run: Join the crew from Run Collective for a group jaunt from Active Culture. 5 PM Active Culture

☕ Coffee & Cowork: Get out of the house and meet some fellow remote workers with this casual meetup at The Commons. 1 PM The Commons Cafe

🤓 Minions Movie Night: Head to everyone’s favorite pickleball/food cart pod for a movie on the big screen. This week’s free showing is Despicable Me. 5:30 PM Ballers & Brews

Conner Bennett | Crosscut Warming Hut | 6 PM
Charlee Prayers | Tetherow Resort | 5 PM
Junaco & Palo Sopraño | Silver Moon | 6 PM | Tickets
AJR | Hayden Homes | 6:30 PM | Tickets 
Fluffalove | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

The Original Wailers | Drake Park | 5:30 PM
Sydney & Logan | The Lot | 6 PM 
DuBb Central | River’s Place | 6 PM
Nate Koehler | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
Almost | Bevel Craft Brewing | 6 PM
Guava Tree | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
The Lindsley Brothers | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

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Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

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