🚧 Tumalo Falls gate is closed

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! It’s been a bit, eh? I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving week. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🚧 Tumalo Falls gate closes for the season

• 🥞 Elmer’s opens on the north side of town

• 🍸️ The Dez Lounge to close

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SPONSORED BY HIGH DESERT MUSEUM

It's warm and wondrous inside the High Desert Museum! Join us after hours every Thursday in December (excluding Christmas Day) for a festive night out with Winter Nights! Explore new exhibitions, decorate cookies, taste delicious brews and ciders, grab a bite from the café, listen to music, and engage in fun activities for all ages. Get your tickets early and save. Members are free!

🎟️ Get Tickets!

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SNAPSHOTS

🌊 Tumalo Falls Gate Closed for the Season

Wanted to make one last trip up to Tumalo Falls before the snow hits? You’ll have to hike, bike, or (once there’s snow) ski or snowshoe, as the gate is now closed for the season. This closure is never as well-publicized as the Cascade Lakes Highway or McKenzie Pass Road, so its closure always seems to sneak up on us!

🌉 Hawthorne Crossing Open House

Want to learn more about the planned Hawthorne Crossing project? The City of Bend is hosting an open house at Dogwood at the Pineshed, where you can learn more about the project design, meet the team leading the way, and ask your questions. The event takes place on Tuesday from 4:30 - 6:30 PM at 821 N.E. Second St.

🎁 December Premium Subscriber Club

Are you feeling a little bit jolly this holiday season and want to help support the Bend Buzz? If so, we have the perfect gift to add to your (virtual) stocking. Our premium subscriber club! For just a couple of bucks a month, you can directly support our little newsletter AND get a free perk from a local business each and every month. This month’s perk comes from Fix & Repeat.

Located in the Box Factory, Fix & Repeat offers a full vegan menu of smoothies, bowls, toasts, juices, and more! I’m a huge fan of The Standard for those days when I need a quick meal on the go!

Want all the details on how to take advantage of this perk? Sign up for our premium membership club today!

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍳 Elmer’s opens new location in Bend: Longtime Bendites will be familiar with this one! Elmer’s has officially reopened in Bend after a 40-ish-year hiatus. You can find them in the space previously occupied by Shari’s on the north end of town, and they are open and serving up breakfast seven days a week. 3098 N Highway 97

🍜 Galley grand opening: Come celebrate the official opening of Galley on the east side of town (in the space formerly occupied by Longboard Louie’s). They will be open for lunch and dinner and serve up a tasty menu of Thai-Asian fusion.

🍸️ Dez Lounge to close: Last year, Bend had a bit of a renaissance with multiple NA cocktail spots opening around town. Unfortunately, another of them is closing as The Dez Lounge announced that they will be closing down on December 12th. Want to join them for one last hurrah? They’ll be open this weekend on December 5th & 6th, and then one last day on December 12th.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @a.stay.nw |📍Old Mill District
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TOGETHER WITH AUDREY CHITWOOD MASSAGE

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Located in downtown Bend, her space is calm, professional, and built for true relaxation.

Book your next session now by calling (541 )420-9419 or at audreychitwood.com

First-time client? Enjoy $10 off your next session!

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 12.1

🍎 Cider Monday: Forget Cyber Monday—Roundabout Books is keeping things cozy with Cider Monday. Swing by for warm sips, good vibes, and maybe a little book browsing to kick off the week in the gentlest way possible. 10 AM Roundabout Books & Café

🎄 Wreath Making Workshop: Get your holiday hands dirty (in the classy, craft-forward way). The Downtown Bend Library is hosting a wreath-making workshop where you’ll weave, twist, and tuck your way to the perfect festive welcome piece. 5:15 PM Downtown Bend Library

🌱 Natural History Pub: Settle in at McMenamins for a fascinating dive into the science of soil health, hosted by the High Desert Museum. Grab a pint, grab a seat, and learn how the ground beneath us keeps the whole ecosystem thriving. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🎸 Musicians Open Showcase: Kick off the evening with live, local talent at The Commonwealth Pub. The Session hosts this open showcase where musicians of all styles step up to share their sound. Grab a pint, settle in, and discover your new favorite Bend artist. 5 PM The Commonwealth Pub

🎤 Sing Your Face Off: Warm up those vocal cords—UPP Liquids is hosting a rock-choir–style singalong where you can let loose, harmonize, and belt it out with a room full of equally enthusiastic strangers. Zero pressure, maximum fun. 6 PM UPP Liquids

🌏️ Multilingual Monday: Come practice your multilingual skills at this free monthly meetup at Broken Top Bottle Shop. 5:30 PM Broken Top Bottle Shop

Tuesday 12.2

🎭 O Christmas Tea – A British Comedy: A chaotic holiday comedy steeped—quite literally—in laughter. From Victorian charm to absurd antics, this touring show brings big laughs and perfect December energy. Two showtimes mean double the chance to get in on the fun. 3 PM & 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

🎨 Train Man Tiny Art Paintings: This special workshop invites you to create your own train-inspired tiny painting on a 6x6 canvas with guidance from local artist Anastasia Zielinski. Your finished piece will join a community display in the Downtown Bend Library’s case throughout December. 5:15 PM Downtown Bend Library

⛷️ OAS Winter Kickoff Party: Winter is officially in session. Oregon Adaptive Sports is launching the season with a celebratory kickoff—and you’re invited. Expect community, stoke, and a chance to support accessible outdoor adventure as snow season ramps up. 5 PM 10 Barrel East

📚 Ladies Book Swap & Meet-Up: Bring a book you loved (or are ready to lovingly pass along) and swap it for something new at Spider City Brewing. Meet fellow readers, grab a pint, and leave with a fresh read and maybe a new book buddy. 6:15 PM Spider City Brewing

❓ Tip of the Tongue Trivia: Sharpen your wits and settle in for a fun, fast-paced round of trivia at Beach Hut Deli. Gather your brainiest friends—or just show up ready to guess boldly and laugh often. 6 PM Beach Hut Deli

🕊️ Earthing Our Bellies: Activate the Earth element using breath, sound, and touch to calm and ground your bellies and nervous systems. 5:30 PM Hanai

📖 Josh Cordell Book Launch: Join local author (and burger aficionado) Josh Cordell at Thump Coffee (York Dr) for the launch of his new book, With Changes Everything. 6:45 PM Thump Coffee (York Dr)

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 12.1

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM

Tuesday 12.2

Marianne Thomas & Single Malt Jazz | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM

UPCOMING EVENTS

🌲 This Thursday — Stories of Indigenous Stewardship from Around the World: Don’t miss your chance to hear award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yüyan live at the Tower Theatre this Thursday! Join Central Oregon LandWatch for an unforgettable talk on Indigenous practices that steward resilient, thriving landscapes around the world — from the Arctic, to Australia, to Oregon's Klamath Basin. Matinee at 3 PM and evening program at 7 PM — grab your tickets today!

WEEKEND PREVIEW

🎨 Friday is for festive wandering, cozy sipping, and a little art-fueled sparkle. Ease into the weekend at the Thump Holiday Market, a maker-filled wonderland of gifts, art, and latte-fueled cheer. Keep the glow going at the Old Mill and downtown Bend with First Friday, a strollable mix of galleries, music, twinkle lights, and seasonal delights—basically a holiday card come to life. Feeling fancy? The High Desert Chamber Music Gala offers an elegant night of performances and community warmth (and an excuse to dress up a little). And when you’re ready to toast the season, Waypoint’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar brings themed cocktails, cozy vibes, and peak December enchantment.

🎉 Saturday brings peak holiday chaos—the Bend way. Lace up for the Mistletoe Miler, a cheerful run/walk that ends in full festive mode. Then wander into pure botanical bliss at Tumalo Lavender’s Holiday Shopping Market, where every gift smells suspiciously like calm and good life choices. In the afternoon, catch all the seasonal feels at the Tower with Holiday Magic – A Season’s Journey, or drift into nostalgia at the Festival of Trees, a beloved community tradition that turns decorated evergreens into auctionable art—all for a good cause. Book lovers get their big moment too: Deschutes Public Library unveils its 2025 A Novel Idea selection, so you can be first to brag about knowing the theme. And when night falls? Frost those tips and relive your inner middle school glory at 2000s Night at Silver Moon—pop hits, dance floor chaos, and zero judgment.

☀️ Sunday slows things down with whimsy, warmth, and classic holiday charm. Get cozy at Bingo with My Gnomies, an afternoon of playful competition, prizes, and general gnome-related joy at Silver Moon. Then treat yourself to a moment of elegance at Blissful Spoon’s Holiday Afternoon Tea, complete with festive bites and the kind of calm December rarely offers. As dusk settles, head downtown for the Christmas Tree Lighting in Brandis Square—carols, community, and that unmistakable flicker of holiday magic.

🎶 The weekend soundtrack: all flavor, no skips. Catch FunkShui, Rogue City Renegades, Any Given Session, or TEB at Silver Moon—each ready to bring the groove, the grit, or the good vibes. For a bigger sonic adventure, Flamingosis lights up Volcanic Theatre Pub with a high-energy, beat-forward show that’ll warm you right through the December chill.

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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