⛷️ So long to ski season

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. A few programming notes to get to before we dig into the good stuff.

Next week, the Bend Buzz will be shifting to a Monday/Wednesday/Friday format. There is SO MUCH happening around town as the weather has started to warm up that these emails were getting a little long, and I was having to leave some good stuff out (not to get too techy but it turns out that the more links you add to an email, the more likely it is that email providers won’t show the whole thing to folks). No more! This will also allow us to start covering Mondays since, it turns out, there’s actually some cool stuff that happens that day!

Second on the list is that you’ll start seeing a new name around these parts. With the kids finishing up school for the summer AND making the switch to a three-day-a-week format, this seemed like the perfect time to start expanding this little newsletter beyond just me. So, please give a warm welcome to Emily (she provided most of the content below).

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🤝 Volunteer fair at the Redmond Library

• 🛝 Goodlife Brewing gets a backyard makeover

• 🚧 The gate to Tumalo Falls is open

Let’s get to it.

— Emily Randolph & Derek Carlson

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SNAPSHOTS

🎭 Bend High Auditorium gets a glow-up

After standing strong for 70 years (and getting torn down last summer), the Bend High Auditorium is finally getting the love it deserves. The new space will be a sleek, modern hub for school plays, concerts, and community shindigs–while still tipping its hat to the original design. Construction kicks off summer 2026, so get your jazz hands ready.

🚧 The gate to Tumalo Falls is open for the season

The skiers and snowshoers got to have their fun on the road to Tumalo Falls but as the weather has warmed and the roads melted out it’s time for the gate to the falls to open once again for the summer. I haven’t been up yet but users have reported that the city (county? Forest Service?…somebody!) did a great job smoothing out the road from the gate to the parking area at the falls. Now to see how long that lasts before the washboards return.

🚶 Updates on Central Oregon’s higher elevation recreation areas

If you find yourself traversing across the wilderness areas surrounding Bend each summer then Hike Oregon is a must-follow. Each spring, when the Cascade Lakes Highway opens up, they head out on a nearly 300-mile drive to report on the condition of parking lots, boat ramps, trailheads, and trails. I would give you a summary here but it is a LONG writeup so if you want the full scoop you can check it out here.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍔 Killer Burger and Starbucks coming to the north side of Bend: Wondering what’s going into the new buildings next to Costco (the new one, not the old one)? Well, wonder no longer as that area is slated to get an upgrade as the new Bend Plaza is bringing in Killer Burger, Starbucks, and some hometown favorites like Cuppa Yo.

🛝 Goodlife Brewing backyard opens: Move over Crux. There’s a new brewery lawn area where the littles can run wild this summer. Goodlife Brewing has completed their backyard renovation and the space now features new grass, a sweet play structure, and a food truck (with a 2nd hopefully on the way soon).

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @hike.oregon |📍Bend
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH CITY STRUT

Struggling with your dog’s behavior? We can help!

Whether it’s barking, jumping, leash pulling, anxiety, or reactivity, our compassionate, expert-led dog behavioral support gets to the root of the issue. Build a calmer, more connected relationship with your dog—no harsh methods, just real results. Personalized sessions are available in person or online. Let’s bring out the best in your best friend!

📞 Text or call (213)361-4321 for a free 15 min consultation.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Tuesday 5.27

📖 Natural history pub: Grab a pint and dig into the history of Bend’s iconic Crane Shed (aka “Big Red”) and other local preservation efforts. Hosted by the Deschutes Historical Museum. Nerdy in the best way. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🌱 May green drinks: Mingle with eco-minded folks over drinks at this monthly sustainability social. Hosted by the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance. 5:30 PM Well Rooted Produce (20377 Swalley Rd)

👟 Moms Club group walk: Calling all caregivers! Join this chill, stroller-friendly walk with the Moms Club. Littles welcome. 9:30 AM Shevlin Park

🎤 Open mic night: Got jokes? Poetry? Sad songs? Hit the mic or just kick back and enjoy the local talent. 6 PM The Commons Café & Taproom

🏐 Middle school boys volleyball clinic: Have a middle school boy interested in volleyball? The Summit High team (they are the defending 5A state champs) is hosting a volleyball clinic for new players. 4:15 - 6:15 PM Summit High School

🚵 Central Oregon Trail Alliance chapter meeting & trail maintenance 101: New to trail building or just curious what COTA is all about? Come for the meeting, stay for a beginner-friendly intro to all things trail maintenance. 6 PM 63075 Crusher Ave

Wednesday 5.28

📚 Author! Author! With Willy Vlautin: Catch bestselling author and musician Willy Vlautin talking all things writing, music, and life on the road. 7 PM Tower Theatre

💌 Tiny beautiful letter project: Inspired by Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things, this powerful event features real, anonymous letters read aloud–expect laughter, tears, and goosebumps. 7 PM Scalehouse Gallery

🍻 Climate talk on tap: Grab a brew and dive into some no-pressure convo about climate change, science, and community resilience. 6 PM Crux Fermentation Project

👟 Drag racers of Bend run club: Lace up for this queer-friendly trail run and post-run hang sesh. No pressure, all fun. 6:30 PM LOGE

📚 The library book club: Join the Deschutes Library via Zoom for a virtual book chat about R.F. Kuang’s wildly popular (and controversial) novel Yellowface. 5:30 PM Zoom

Thursday 5.29

🎥 No man’s land film festival: Celebrate women and nonbinary adventurers with a lineup of inspiring short films. 7 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🎸 Alpenglow nights: Say hello to Bend’s newest free summer concert series. Live tunes, food trucks, and sunshine–what more do you need? 5 PM Alpenglow Park

🏃 Kid’s glow run: Kick off the first week of Alpenglow Nights with a kid’s fun run! Glow sticks, music, and an energy-filled run for kids of all ages. 5 PM Alpenglow Park

📵 Healthy tech talk: Join Well Wired for a free two-hour event around healthy tech use for kids. Kids ages 7-11 are welcome, and there is childcare provided! 5:30 PM First Presbyterian Church

☕ Death café: Gather with curious minds for an honest conversation about life, death, and everything in between - over coffee and cake, of course. Facilitated by end-of-life doula, Cheryl Adcox. 6 PM Downtown Bend Library – Brooks Room

📚 Worthy pub talk & book signing: Join local author LeeAnn Kriegh for stories about Central Oregon’s wild things and wild places–and snag a signed copy of her book. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🤝 Volunteer fair returns: I get a lot of questions from folks (a huge thank you to everyone who takes the time to email me!) about volunteer opportunities in Central Oregon. If this is you or you’ve been thinking about lending a helping hand then this event is for you. Connect Central Oregon is hosting a volunteer and board fair at the new Redmond Library. You can see the whole list of participating organizations here. 3:30 - 5:45 PM Redmond Public Library

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday 5.27

The Wailin’ Jennys | Tower Theater | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Topeka Clementine, Rainbow City Park & Not Your Ex Lover | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Oyster Lee | GoodLife Brewing | 6 PM
Salamander Collective | Boys & Girls Club | 8 PM

Wednesday 5.28

Khruangbin | Hayden Homes Amphitheater | 7 PM | Tickets
Son of Wolf | Bevel Craft Brewing | 6 PM
Alex Winters | Crosscut Warming Hut | 6 PM
Fluffalove | The Bite in Tumalo | 6 PM
Five Pint Mary | McMenamins | 7 PM
Kevin Dorin | The Commons | 7:30 PM

Thursday 5.29

Brad Paisley | Hayden Homes Amphitheater | 6:30 PM | Tickets
Critical Blues Band | Bar Rio | 7 PM
Twin Engines | The Commons | 7:30 PM
Sakoyona & Guests | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Honey Don’t | River’s Place | 6 PM
School of Rock | Bend Cider Co. | 5 PM
Dirk Benson | Mountain Burger | 6 PM
The Muddy Souls | Alpenglow Park | 5 PM
Sean Daly & The Shams | Alpenglow Park | 6:30 PM

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

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

• Driver-Leaders at Higher Ground Moving

• Wedding Sales Manager at Tetherow

• Management Analyst, Billing – Health Services (Part Time) at Deschutes County

• Reading Coach at Elevate Reading Center

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

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

THANKS!

Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

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