🍔 Who has the best burger in Bend?

A new brewfest is coming this spring, Nome Italiano closes their doors, and our quest for the best burger in Bend

Author

Derek Carlson
February 18, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Today is day one of our quest to find the best burger in Bend. Make sure to drop your recommendation at the bottom of today’s newsletter.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

  • 🍻 A new beerfest coming this spring

  • 🍝 Nome Italiano closes their doors for good

  • 🍔 Our quest for the best burger in town

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

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SNAPSHOTS

🥇 Big weekends for high school swimming and wrestling

The Intermountain Conference held their regional championships for both swimming and wrestling over the weekend. In the pool, Bend High dominated and took home the championship for both the boys and girls programs. On the mats, it was the Redmond Panthers who came out on top with the Bend Lava Bears finishing second.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍻 A new beer fest is coming to town: RIP Bend Brewfest. Long live Bend Brews & Beyond. This new brewfest is coming to Drake Park for a two-day event in May and features more than just the usual lineup of hazy IPAs. There will be more than fifty Oregon breweries offering up beer, cider, non-alcoholic beer, hop water, kombucha, cold brew, and beyond. Tickets are on sale now and you can use the code BENDBUZZ to save a few bucks!

🍝 Nome Italiano restaurant closes their doors: Westside Italian and pizza eatery Nome Italiano suddenly announced they were closing their doors for good over the weekend. There is no word yet on the reason behind the closure or what is to come next for the space.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @ryandalling |📍Deschutes River
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

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Submit a service request online here or call them directly at (541) 208-4424. Save your appliances—and your wallet!

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Tuesday 2.18

🧶 Crochet a plushie: Ever wanted to learn to crochet your own adorable plushies? Mara from Mara Crochets Minis is hosting a three-day beginner crochet class that will teach you all the skills you need to make your own chubby frog. Classes take place 6 - 8 PM Tues - Thurs at iSoMiMo

🫖 Hygge at the library: Spend the evening at the Downtown Bend Library and immerse yourself in a world of cozy. Hygge is the Danish practice of coziness and warmth, and it is being brought to life at the library with a selection of games, books, coloring, puzzles, and hot chocolate. 4 - 5 PM Downtown Bend Library

🚶‍♂️ Hike with friends: The Paulina Peak Social Group is hosting a 4.4-mile group hike/walk along the Deschutes River Trail. This easy-paced walk is the perfect chance to chat and make new friends. 10 AM Riverbend Park

🎤 Karaoke at Commonwealth: Get those pipes ready for an evening of belting out your greatest karaoke hits at the Commonwealth Pub. 6 - 8 PM 30 SW Century Dr

🧘‍♀️ Do yoga inside: With Emily from Do Yoga Outside. This weekly 75-minute yoga flow class will be followed by a short community-building session perfect for these dark winter days. 5:30 PM Location in NE Bend (details provided after signup)

Wednesday 2.19

❓️ Trivia night at Crosscut: Come spend your Wednesday evening at one of the coziest trivia spots in town with Head Games Trivia. 6 PM 566 SW Mill View Way

🤣 Wednesday comedy night: For just $5 ($10 at the door), you’ll get to spend the evening with seven hilarious comics at Silver Moon Brewing. 7:30 PM Silver Moon Brewing

📗 Larkspur Library book club: Head over to the Larkspur Community Center to discuss this month’s book of choice - The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan. 10 - 11 AM Larkspur Community Center

🔔 Midweek reset sound bath: Rather than spend your lunch scrolling on TikTok, why not head to the downtown library for a mid-week reset? Mara McBecker and Natalia Martin of Align45 are hosting a soundbath to help recharge your energy and clear your mental clutter. 12:15 - 1 PM Downtown Public Library

🔢 Bingo for the dogs: 5 rounds of bingo. $5 each. And all the proceeds go to Street Dog Hero to help pups find new and loving homes. 6 - 8 PM Midtown Yacht Club

Thursday 2.20

🏅 CASA pickleball classic: Head up to Redmond to watch some of Central Oregon’s best pickleball paddlers battle it out to take home the golden pickle. Just kidding, the winners get cold hard cash. Thursday - Sunday The Premier Pickleball Club

🌊 Raising the Deschutes: Join the Deschutes River Conservancy at Worthy Brewing for a discussion about the Deschutes River basin, the challenges it faces, and the efforts that are underway to ensure a stable water future for generations to come. 6 PM 495 NE Bellevue Dr

⛷️ A Man Who Loved A Mountain: MBSEF is hosting another showing of A Man Who Loved A Mountain - a film about Bill Healy and his vision to build the Mt. Bachelor ski area. These showings keep selling out so make sure to grab your tickets now…if there are any still availble. 7:30 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🖥️ AI in Central Oregon: The City Club of Bend is holding their February talk, and this month’s topic is Demystifying AI. The focus will be on how the emergence of AI impacts you and Central Oregon as a whole. 11:30 AM - 1 PM 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd

🪲 Insects of the High Desert: Want to learn more about the creepy crawly bugs that call the High Desert home? Join the Oregon Natural Desert Association and Dr. Tara Cornelisse for a presentation on the butterflies, moths, and beetles that live amongst us. 7 - 8 PM Virtual event

Weekend Preview

It’s never too early to start planning for the weekend so here’s your look ahead at the top events and live music happening this Friday - Sunday.

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday 2.18

🦗 

Wednesday 2.19

Old St. Francis School | Fractal | 7 PM
Crosscut Warming Hut | Long Gone Wilder | 6 PM
Commonwealth Pub | Dean Mueller | 7 PM

Thursday 2.20

Midtown Ballroom | The Elovators | 7 PM | Tickets
River’s Place | Critical Blues Band | 6 PM
Commonwealth Pub | SHINE | 8 PM
Mountain Burger | Dry Canyon Stampede | 5 PM
The Lot | Skinny Dennis | 6 PM

WHO’S HIRING IN CENTRAL OREGON

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

BEND BUZZ BURGER SHOOTOUT

Local Bend Buzz readers, I need your help…

I’m embarking on a quest to find THE best burger in all of Bend. But I can’t do it alone. I need your help to find the tastiest smash burger, the juiciest steak burger with all the fixings, and everything in between.

From popular spots to out of the way gems - no burger is off limits. Let me know your absolute favorite below 👇️ 

I’ll compile the results and let you know the top choices that we’ll be tasting in person.

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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