TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Still looking for some last-minute Valentine’s Day activities? Check out our roundup from Monday, and no one will even know that you waited until the last minute to plan the night out.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

  • 🫖 Tea + Art Lounge location revealed

  • 🚧 Olney Ave reopens

  • 🤝 February dinner club date announcement

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

Accumulation happens.  Let's tackle it together. 

Is all of your stuff holding you back from inviting friends over, enjoying a meal at your dining table, using your desk to get work (or even dreaded taxes) done?  Do you feel stuck and not sure where to begin?

That’s where The Avenue comes in. The Avenue works hands-on with busy people who want less clutter and more breathing room at home. They don’t just organize your space, they help you create simple, realistic systems that actually stick. Together, you’ll sort, edit, and reset your space so it works for how you live today, not how you think it should work.

Their process is centered on you and what’s motivating this change, whether it’s more time, better focus, or simply feeling lighter in your own home. So whether this is the guest room turned dumping ground, a garage with no space to park, or an entire home reset, there's no project too big or small. 

Ready to reclaim your space? Call/Text (541)205-9129 or visit theavenue.us and mention you saw The Avenue in the Bend Buzz to get a free extra on-site hour when you book. 

Interested in featuring your business in our next ad spot? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!

SNAPSHOTS

💸 Free Tax Prep at OSU-Cascades

OSU-Cascades is hosting free tax preparation appointments for families who need assistance preparing their returns and have a household income of less than $65,000; individuals with disabilities; those with limited English language; and those ages 60 and older. Volunteer tax preparers include OSU-Cascades faculty and staff, business students and community members. Volunteers are fluent in languages including Chinese, German, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can book an appointment or learn more here.

🍽 Dinner Club: February Edition

Looking to get out for an evening on the town and make some new friends along the way? This month’s edition of dinner club will be taking place on Wednesday, February 18th at 6 PM, and this time we’ll be sending folks to restaurants at the Old Mill (hooray for more parking!). Need a refresher on how the process works? See below:

🍽️ 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, February 18th 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.

Looking for an update on our couples’ dinner club? That one is still in the works, but it’s looking like we’ll have to push it to March :-(

🚧 Olney Ave Opens Today

Downtown commuters rejoice as the stretch of Olney Ave between Wall and NE 2nd is FINALLY reopening today. We drove by yesterday afternoon, and the road was looking pretty clear aside from the barriers at the entrance, so hopefully we’ll all wake up this morning to a fresh new stretch of pavement.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍵 New tea lounge location revealed: A lot of folks have been clamouring for a dedicated tea lounge in Bend, and the location has been revealed for the soon-to-open Bend Tea + Art Lounge (Bend TEAL). The hopefully soon-to-open hangout spot/tea lounge/art space will be located right next to Deschutes Brewpub in downtown Bend at 1024 NW Bond.

@THEBENDBUZZ

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📸 @dudleysbookshopbend | 📍Dudley’s Bookshop
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TOGETHER WITH SALT AESTHETICS

Ever wondered what it actually feels like to visit Salt Aesthetics?

Take a minute to watch our short video, A Peek Inside. You’ll see plenty of laughs, a calm boutique space, and care thoughtfully focused on one thing. Natural, subtle results.

We keep things simple. A small menu of treatments, done really damn well.

No upselling. No pressure. Just honest, medically guided care that leaves you looking refreshed, never obvious.

And if you’re curious what others think, you can read our 200+ five-star Google reviews. We truly LOVE our patients.

If it feels like the right fit, we’d love to meet you for a complimentary consultation.

As a Bend Buzz welcome, wrinkle relaxers starting at $12.60 per unit.

We can’t wait to meet you.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 2.11

😂 $5 Comedy Night: Cheap tickets, big laughs. Local and touring comics take the stage for a low-stakes, high-fun comedy night that proves you don’t need a fancy ticket to have a great time. Grab a drink, grab a seat, and let the jokes fly. 7:30 PM Silver Moon

🧠 ET Expert Lab: Effective Communication & Emotional Intelligence: A practical, skills-forward workshop focused on communicating clearly, navigating emotions, and showing up better at work and in life. Come ready to learn tools you’ll actually use. 3:45 PM OSU Cascades

🌹 Petals & Texture: Celebrate the Valentine’s season with a hands-on floral workshop designed to spark creativity and connection. 5:30 PM Freak’n Art

🖼 Art Show & Open House: Explore artwork by local artist Megan Marie Myers, meet the artist in person, and learn more about how the Bend Ronald McDonald House supports families across Central Oregon. 5 PM Ronald McDonald House

🌌 The Universe Before There Were Stars: Travel way back in time with astrophysicist Dr. Brandon Matthews to explore the earliest moments of the universe—before stars, galaxies, or anything recognizable existed. 6 PM COCC Middleton Science Center

🎸 Skillethead Album Release: Celebrate new music from Skillethead with a high-energy album release show at the Old St. Francis School. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🌋 Forged in Fire: Volcanic Activity That Shaped Oregon’s High Desert: A fascinating virtual talk diving into the fiery forces that formed Central Oregon’s dramatic landscape. Perfect for geology nerds, hikers, and anyone who loves a good lava story. 7 PM Online

🧗‍♀️ Women’s Climb Night: A welcoming, supportive evening for women climbers of all levels. Meet new partners, build confidence on the wall, and enjoy a strong community vibe. 6 PM The Circuit

🐷 Peppa Pig: My First Concert: A bright, bubbly introduction to live music for little ones, featuring songs, visuals, and plenty of Peppa-approved fun. 6:30 PM Tower Theatre

🏃 FootZone Group Run: A social group run from FootZone to 10 Barrel West—equal parts movement and mingling. All paces welcome, with post-run drinks as the reward. 5:30 PM FootZone → 10 Barrel

Thursday 2.12

🍺🍰 Valentine’s Beer Pairing & Dessert: A sweet (and boozy) Valentine’s twist on date night, pairing thoughtfully crafted beers with decadent desserts. Come with a partner or treat yourself—you won’t leave hungry. 6 PM UPP Liquids

🎭 Venus in Fur: An intense, provocative theatrical experience that blurs the lines between power, desire, and control. Sharp dialogue and charged performances make this one unforgettable. 7 PM Open Space Event Studios

♻️ BEND 101: Waste in Bend: Learn where Bend’s waste actually goes and what’s being done to reduce it. An eye-opening talk for anyone curious about sustainability and local solutions. 5 PM Deschutes Brewery

🎬 Galentine’s Film Night: Grab your gals and settle in for a cozy, feel-good night featuring two short films about sisterhood, confidence, and getting after it. Free to attend (tickets required) with raffle prizes from local and outdoor brands—plus all raffle proceeds benefit Tits Deep for Breast Cancer. 6 PM Powderhouse

🧵 Community n Crafts: Drop in for crafting, conversation, and connection. A come-as-you-are creative hangout that’s more about people than perfection. 5 PM The Pantry

🥃 Mezcal Lovers Copita Carving Class: Sip mezcal while carving your own traditional copita cup. A hands-on, sensory experience blending craft, culture, and a little bit of buzz. 6 PM Casa De Stela Studio

💖 Galentine’s Day Happy Hour: A laid-back happy hour celebrating friendship, self-love, and good company. Pop in with your besties for a fun photoshoot downtown! 4 PM Jen Lee Photography

⛸️ Winter Olympics Watch Party: Catch the Winter Games on the big screen with fellow fans. Cozy vibes, cold drinks, and plenty of cheering—running every Thursday through Saturday while the Olympics are on. 3 PM The Abbey at Monkless

🖌 Contemporary Landscape Series: Dive into the world of contemporary landscape painting at this 3-week series at the Open Arts Center. 6 PM Open Arts Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

💧 The Water Remembers: Registration opens today for the Deschutes Land Trust's March Nature Night with Amy Bowers Cordalis (Yurok). Get your tickets early to learn all about the Klamath River dam removal and river restoration project. March 11th at 7 PM at the Tower Theatre

Interested in promoting your upcoming events here? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 2.11

Skillethead | McMenamins | 7 PM | Tickets
Dry Canyon Stampede Duo | Coyote | 8:30 PM
Evan Mullins & Connor Bennett | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

Thursday 2.12

Live Wire | River’s Place | 6 PM
Mavisbretz Project | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
Sidney Joseph | The Lot | 6 PM
Mark Creech | Portello Lounge | 6 PM
Good Trouble | The Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM 
The Moanin’ Frogs | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Bravo The Bagchaser & Lil Maru | Domino Room | 8:45 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.

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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