🥇Groceries and gold

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Well, it only took a year, but we FINALLY made it into Ken’s for some pizza. We were able to grab a table for four with no wait at 6:30 PM on Sunday(just in case you think there’s always a line), and let me tell you, the hype is real.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🎵 More spring/summer music announcements

• 🥇 Local grocery store is giving away gold

• 🍸️ The bar at The Westman hotel opens

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

SPONSORED BY BEND LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

School Choice Isn’t the End of the Conversation.

The Bend-La Pine school choice lottery has wrapped up—but your child’s learning options aren’t set in stone.

Bend Leadership Academy is now enrolling for Fall and offers a different approach to education—one built around leadership, critical thinking, and project-based learning in a kid-led environment.

At BLA, physiology is foundational, not optional. Each week includes purposeful movement and play to support focus and regulation, self-paced academics, hands-on projects, and Socratic discussions that help kids think deeply and communicate clearly. Fridays are dedicated to enrichment, with local entrepreneurs, artists, and experts connecting learning to the real world.

Fall enrollment is open.
Our next Open House is on the 21st, and tours are available now.

👉️ To attend the Open House or schedule a visit, fill out the contact form on our website.

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SNAPSHOTS

⛷️ Hoodoo Closing to Assess Snowpack

If you were planning on heading up to Hoodoo today, you might want to make other plans, as the ski area announced it would be closed to assess the snowpack and do some shoveling to cover thin areas. They hope to be able to open the rest of the week, but with 60+ degree days in the forecast this week, things aren’t looking great until we finally get another round of snowfall.

💧 Plunge and Pitch with Flux Lounge

Looking for something to do this evening? Join us at Flux Lounge for the first plunge and pitch. Entrepreneurs, community builders, and those working on a passion project will have the opportunity to hop in the cold plunge pool and pitch their idea in 60 seconds while the rest of us hang out in the hot tubs and vote on our favorites. The event takes place from 5 - 6 PM, and anyone who wants to join the fun can get in for a discounted rate.

🎸 More Music Announcements

A few more music happenings to note for the coming spring and summer in Bend. First is that the Homegrown Music Festival has released the full lineup for the all-local weekend of tunes happening May 7-9 at the Century Center. You can grab a pass that covers the full weekend or buy tickets for individual days to catch your favorite band.

Second is a pair of shows at the amphitheater, with Godsmack and Stone Temple Pilots playing on September 22nd, and Metric, Broken Social Scene, and Stars playing on June 24th. Tickets for both shows go on sale online and at the Old Mill on Friday.

🥽 Playbook for BPRD Spring Programs

Calling all Bend parents! Get your coffee ready, as signups for BPRD’s spring programs take place next week on Tuesday at 6 AM. They’ve released the playbook so you can start planning out your schedules for soccer, choir, gymnastics, swimming, and everything else (don’t tell me we’re the only ones with a crazy activity schedule!). You can check out the playbook here. Just a reminder that summer signups are tentatively scheduled for mid-March.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍸️ Westman Hotel bar opens: After a soft opening over the weekend, Minnie’s, the bar in the Westman Hotel lobby, is officially open for business. The bar offers seating in the old post office lobby space and a small bites menu. We stopped by to check it out, and it’s gonna be a great addition to the downtown scene.

🥇 Newport Avenue Market is giving away free gold: Gold is all the rage right now (although maybe slightly less so than a week ago), and Newport Avenue Market is getting in on the fun by giving away a free 1oz gold bar each month in 2026. With the price of gold currently hovering around $4,500/oz, this would be a pretty sweet prize. You can check out the full details here on how to enter.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @bendteal | 📍 hint hint
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TOGETHER WITH GRINGO LANGUAGE ACADEMY

Stuck at "¿Dónde está el baño?"? Ready to admit that the little green owl was a great start, but just not going to cut it? At Gringo Language Academy, Bend resident Jennifer Colestock has turned her 25 years of teaching experience toward helping adults FINALLY start speaking Spanish.

Gringo Language Academy offers unlimited online classes at all levels, 1:1 coaching, native Spanish-speaking conversation partners, and a 24/7 online community hub—all for one simple monthly payment.

Instruction happens online, but the community is very much local. Join their next event, Halftime Cram Time, at Los Andes on Saturday, February 7 at 1:30 PM to meet Jennifer and practice your Spanish in a fun, low-pressure environment. Can’t make it to this one? Check out their Central Oregon Spanish Meetup, where they frequently host free events around town. 

Ready to habla más and struggle menos? Schedule a free "Gringo Glow-Up" to create your personalized Spanish game plan, or find them on Instagram and Facebook.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 2.4

🫧 Bubble Bonanza: A wildly fun, sensory-filled afternoon made especially for early release Wednesday. Expect giant bubbles, interactive play, and lots of wide-eyed wonder inside the historic Tower Theatre. 1 PM Tower Theatre

🔭 In-Depth Winter Nighttime Observatory Visit: Bundle up for a guided night under the stars. This extended observatory experience dives deeper into winter skies, planets, and celestial objects—with expert insight and serious stargazing magic.  7 PM Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory

🦫 The Beaver Den: A relaxed book club gathering focused on wildlife conservation and connection. Learn about local efforts, ask questions, and hang with fellow nature lovers who care about Central Oregon’s ecosystems. 5:30 PM Think Wild

🧠 WTF! Wednesday Trivia Fun!: Fast-paced trivia with questions that range from delightfully unhinged to “how did I know that?” Grab a beer, bring your smartest friends, and prepare for plenty of groans and glory. 7 PM Prost!

🥏 Putting Mayhem: This winter weather has given us plenty of opportunities to work on our disc golf game. So put those skills to the test at Bevel’s putting mayhem. You might even win a few bucks. 5:30 PM Bevel Brewing

🖌️ Kids Studio: This month’s early out Kids Studio series will be focused on the work of influential black artists. Classes are two hours and run every Wednesday in February. 1:30 PM Freak’N Art

🧵 Create It Craft Club: Join the inaugural women’s Create It Craft Club. At this week’s event, you’ll be making bag charms (and I hear there will be some can’t-miss snacks provided, as well). 4 PM Iris & Stout

🎙️ Bend Comedy Open Mic: Local comics test new material, brave first-timers take the stage, and the audience gets an unpredictable night of laughs. Come support Bend’s comedy scene—or sign up and shoot your shot. 7 PM UPP Liquids

🏔️ Mt. Bachelor Passholder Party: A thank-you party for passholders featuring drinks, giveaways, and mountain stoke. It’s a solid excuse to talk snow conditions, plan your next ski day, and hang with fellow Bachelor regulars. 5 PM Bend Brewing

🌱 Bend Parks & Rec Spring Registration Info Night: Get the inside scoop on spring programs before registration opens. Ideal for parents, planners, and anyone trying to snag popular classes or camps without the scramble. 5 PM Larkspur Community Center

Thursday 2.5

😂 Gareth Reynolds Comedy: Sharp, fast, and unapologetically funny—Gareth Reynolds brings his signature storytelling and observational comedy to Bend. Expect big laughs and possibly sore abs by the end of the night. 8 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

📘 Miscalculated Risks by Michael Cooper: An author event for readers who love thoughtful storytelling and real-world stakes. Hear Michael Cooper discuss his latest work, the ideas behind it, and stick around for conversation and signing. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books

🍰 The Sweet Soireé: A dessert-forward evening with purpose. Indulge in sweets, sip drinks, and support Every Child Central Oregon in a warm, feel-good setting that makes philanthropy actually fun. 7 PM Hawkeye & Huckleberry

💘 Valentine’s Night Market: Shop local, snag last-minute Valentine’s gifts, and soak up the festive vibes. With vendors, food, and drinks, it’s perfect for date night, friend hangs, or treating yourself. 5 PM Midtown Yacht Club

📖 Beyond the Binary: Online Queer Teen Book Club: A supportive virtual space for queer teens to read, discuss, and connect through books that reflect diverse identities and experiences. Thoughtful, affirming, and community-centered. 4:30 PM via Zoom

🚘️ Roundabout Open House: Surprise! Bend is planning another roundabout. Swing by Larkspur Community Center to meet the team and ask questions about the upcoming project at 15th and Ferguson. 4:30 PM Larkspur Community Center

🕯️ Taize Meditation: Reset with an evening of readings, Taize music, silence, and prayer. 7 PM Trinity Episcopal church

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Couples Night: Head to Wildwood for their open mic and a couple’s meetup hosted by Bend Friends 4 Life. 6 PM Wildwood

🍽️ EDCO Luncheon: Join EDCO for their annual luncheon, where you can mingle with fellow business leaders and hear from keynote speaker Michelle Stacy. 11 AM Riverhouse Lodge

UPCOMING EVENTS

🧠 Intuition, Awareness, & You: Join Kristen Sowalsky, PhD, for a one-hour class designed to help you lead a more vibrant, authentic life by exploring ways of listening to your intuition and why awareness matters. This approachable workshop breaks down concepts of consciousness drawn from neuroscience, NDEs, and more, into real-world insights you can begin using immediately. Saturday, February 7th at 11 AM at Foundation Health & Fitness.

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LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 2.4

Talamh Dubh | McMenamins | 7 PM
Chris Beland | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

Thursday 2.5

KC Flynn | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
Grits n Gravy | River’s Place | 6 PM
Haute Melange | Stoller Wine Bar | 6 PM
Rick Smith | The Lot | 6 PM
Hannah Juanita | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
SHINE | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM 
MANIA | Tower Theatre | 7:30 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.

• Information Technologies Manager at Deschutes Public Library

• Social Services Specialist at St. Charles

• Director of Inventory Optimization at Les Schwab

• System Administrator at Mosaic Community Health

• Cat Café Crew Member at Playful Paws Cat Café

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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