Even though the 4th is on Saturday, there are things happening tomorrow (the 3rd) that I'm including on the list—since it's a long holiday weekend for many of us. Here are a bunch of events happening:

• First Friday Art Walk (July 3rd): Downtown hosts the monthly event where the galleries stay open late and often offer refreshments and music. 5 to 9pm.
• "Independence Day" showing at Tower Theatre (July 3rd): Yes, it's the 1996 alien-blow-em-up movie on the big screen at the Tower, with 9 minutes of "special edition" footage. It's only $5—a great price for a move—and starts at 8pm.
• The Pet Parade: The perennial favorite parade where people bring their favorite pets (no cats or rabbits!) to march through downtown. More details here, including a parade map. I'll definitely be there. 10am.
• Old Fashioned 4th of July in Drake Park: After the Pet Parade, Drake Park hosts the Old Fashioned Celebration for the 4th, from 11am to 4pm. Lots of craft vendors, food booths, games and activities for kids. The Saturday Market vendors will be down in Drake Park for this, too (not at their usual spot across the street from the Library).
• Friends of the Bend Library Book Sale: From 10 until 4pm, the Library always has their Summer Book Sale on the 4th and as always there are great deals to be found. It's at the Library Administration Building, in the basement.
• 10th Annual Firecracker 100 Bicycle Ride with WebCyclery: "It's our metric century ride to Prineville. Maps and good food stops are included for $15 - with proceeds benefiting Partners in Care (formerly HospiceCenter and Central Oregon Home Health & Hospice)."
• Bend Elks Baseball: The Bend Elks are playing the Corvallis Knights at Vince Genna Stadium. Starting at 5:30pm.
• The Freedom Ride: I don't see a specific starting time on their Facebook page, but last year's Freedom Ride started at 2pm from Pioneer Park. Get on your bike and join the Ride through downtown Bend.
• Sound Fourth Community Concert: This free concert starts at 3pm at the Bend High Auditorium, followed by a free barbecue on the First Presbyterian Church lawn.
• Deschutes Historical Society Ice Cream Social and Free Day: The Historical Society Museum opens up free to the public from 10am until 4pm, and they give away free ice cream to all comers.
• Maragas Winery 4th of July Weekend Bash: The 4th and the 5th, from 11am to 5pm, Maragas has their weekend bash and wine tasting going on out at their Culver winery (actually just north of the Crooked River Bridge). Live music, food, and wine for $10.
• Redmond 4th of July: They have a parade starting downtown at 10am, and their fireworks display starting at dusk (9pm-ish) at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.
• LaPine Frontier Days: Through the weekend, starting on the 3rd, it's the LaPine Independence Day celebration. Arts, a carnival, food, live music—the works. Don't forget the fireworks at 10pm.
• BBQ & Blues at Jake's Diner: The fifth annual BBQ presented by Jake's and the Vietnam Veterans of America (with proceeds going to the VVA) goes from 6 to 8pm. You're welcome to stay and watch the Pilot Butte fireworks, but don't bring any fireworks or alcohol.
• Pilot Butte Fireworks: Of course! This starts at 10pm and lasts about 20 minutes. Find a good view of the Butte and wait for the fires show to start.

A couple of notes about Deschutes Brewery, actually. First is their outdoor seating. Didn't know they had outdoor seating? Today they Twittered:

We now have OUTDOOR seating at the Bend Pub! First time EVER! Come sit outside and enjoy one of our amazing hand-crafted brews in the sun!

My guess is it's sidewalk seating, like you'll find at certain other restaurants around downtown; there's just nowhere else they could go, really. Still cool.

And then this Friday, the 3rd, is "Jubel in July":

Come on down for a Jubel in July Party! It will be like a tropical Christmas with grass skirts and lei's, Jubel specials with tropical influence and a tropical party. Hope to see you there!

It's either a sneak preview of the 2009 Jubelale, or just an excuse to tap some past Jubelale kegs. Either way, it's all good.

We spent the past week or so out of town, and only just got back late last night. With limited internet connectivity (plus really no time), it made for a nice "blog vacation" but now we'll be getting back into the swing of things.

I've updated the calendar with the July shows for Silver Moon Brewing already, and have a few things that were sent in that I'll be posting. Plus, it's the Fourth of July weekend already, just a few days away, and there's tons of good things happening!

Blogging and Twittering will be very light this week; other things are going on and I may or may not have much computer access. (I'll at least try to keep up on Twitter since that's easier.)

In the meantime keep an eye on the calendar and don't forget the Free Activity Guide either. Lots of good things to be found for free or nearly so.

Late mentioning this (since everyone seems to be aware of it already), but the Bite of Bend is this weekend—the festival to "celebrate our local culture and create an event that highlights the food of our region."

Saturday and Sunday there will be food galore, live music, a kids area, and the "Top Chef" (formerly Iron Chef) competition. Except for buying the food and drink (of course), it's free to attend.

It's all in Downtown Bend again this year, too. (In former years it was at the Old Mill District.) As long as there's no more torrential downpours (*cough*underpass*cough*), it should make for a fun weekend.

The NY Times this evening published a doozy: Slump Dashes Oregon Dreams of Californians.

The freefall has made Bend a succinct symbol for the economic perils of “lifestyle destinations” in the so-called New West, recreation-heavy communities where jobs have been heavily tilted toward construction and services and where many of the new residents were self-made exiles from California cashing in on their overpriced real estate.

Now the Californians who contributed to Oregon’s growth are in some cases adding to its economic struggle.... While some other states with high unemployment, including Michigan, have seen their labor forces shrink, Oregon’s labor force has grown. Economists say some of the growth appears to be driven by people who moved here with money they made in California, whether from real estate or stock market investments, and expected to get by but now must look for work.

Overall a good article, succinct in laying out where Bend has largely gone wrong. (Hint: it's not all Californians.)

One interesting tidbit that I did not know: Bend Living, the ultra-glossy local magazine, has folded (a "casualty" in the article's terms). I was wondering why I hadn't seen a new issue lately.

This sounds pretty cool actually, and will make a good addition to the Free Summertime Activity Guide.

Local favorites, rootsy stringband Blackstrap kick off a new live music concert series on the bank of the Deschutes River, the Pickin’ & Paddlin’ Music Series. Beginning Wednesday, June 24 and continuing the last Wednesday of July and August, Pickin’ & Paddlin’ features live music from 7:00 to 9:00pm, as well as the chance to try kayaks, canoes, paddles and other gear on the Deschutes River. Admission is free, and the whole family is welcome. Donations to the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance are encouraged, and Silver Moon Brewing's new Epic Trail Ale will be available for adult consumption (proceeds to BPTA).

From 4:00 to 7:00pm, representatives from top paddle sports companies such as Eddyline Kayaks, Esquif Canoes, Swift Paddles, Bending Branches and Aquabound Paddles will will be available for free demos and to answer questions. Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe’s fleet of 50 demo boats will also be available, with staff on hand to help.

The Pickin’ & Paddlin’ Music Series is hosted by Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe, in Bend at 805 SW Industrial Way # 6 (on the Deschutes at the foot of the Colorado Ave. Bridge). Please call 541-317-9407 for details.

DATES, TIMES, BANDS:
Wednesday, June 24
4:00 pm to 7:00pm - free boat and gear demos on the Deschutes River
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Blackstrap

Wednesday, July 29
4:00 pm to 7:00pm - free boat and gear demos on the Deschutes River
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Sweet Harlots

Wednesday, August 26
4:00 pm to 7:00pm - free boat and gear demos on the Deschutes River
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Moon Mountain Ramblers

COST: Admission is free. Kids welcome. No dogs please. Donations to the Bend Paddle Trail Trail Alliance are encouraged.

Bend Memorial Clinic has their SpecFest coming up this Saturday, June 20th. From 9am until 3pm, you can get 20 to 40% off sunglasses, eyewear, and more. There will also be refreshments, entertainment (not sure what), and a bouncy house and a petting zoo.

Most of this I gleaned from the flier, which you can view after the jump.

Read all

The Bulletin today had some details on the new pub that will be opening over on Galveston on the Westside:

The pub, to be called Brother Jon’s Public House and located at 1227 N.W. Galveston Ave., will be family-friendly and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, Machell said. The menu will feature healthy pub food, soups and salads, with entrees costing no more than $10, he added.

Machell, who is opening the bar with his business partner, Stephen Barnette, said the pub will also show baseball and football games but shouldn’t be considered a sports bar.

The 1227 space was formerly occupied by Le Cakery and (briefly) Makahna's. Or, is Le Cakery still open? It's possible it was a shared building space, since Google tells me Mt. Bachelor Fitness Equipment and Archery Den are currenlty (or used to be?) at that address, too. Along with something called Chit Chat, and Bend Skin Company.

Move over, Bend: Redmond has a summer's worth of free concerts to offer, too. Starting this week and lasting through September 9th, Music on the Green and Music in the Canyon are offering free music every Wednesday (along with food vendors, arts, and crafts).

Music on the Green:

Hosted at Sam Johnson Park, Music on the Green is a FREE, family friendly event featuring gourmet food vendors, arts, crafts, convenient parking and more. This year's series will begin Wednesday, June 24, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. and run every other Wednesday till September 2nd, 2009.

Music in the Canyon:

Located at 850 SW Rimrock Way at the new American Legion Park in Redmond.

This concert series is presented as a complement to "Music on the Green" at Sam Johnson Park.

It takes place every other Wednesday on the non-Music on the Green days—filling in the gaps, as it were.

Definitely worth checking out if you're in Redmond.

And, I've updated the Free Summertime Activity Guide with these two items (in a special "Redmond" section no less).

Monday kicks off Commute Options Week, the annual week-long driving alternative campaign "encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport and raising awareness on the environmental impacts of citizens’ modal choice." From the 15th through Sunday the 21st there's a whole slew of events people can get involved in, like:

• Ride BAT (Bend Area Transit) all day for free on Monday the 15th
• Bike Repair Clinic at Pine Mountain Sports on Tuesday the 16th
• Spring Fling Fashion Show at Parilla Grill on Friday the 19th

How will you be getting to work?

Summertime in Central Oregon offers a ton of things to do, but unfortunately much of it doesn't come cheap. So for the budget-conscious, I've compiled over the past couple of years a list of free (or nearly free) activities to be found.

Click through for the Free Summertime Activity Guide!

This is a free show at McMenamins.

Special guest opener Shireen Amini

Less than a year after the Sweet Harlots debut at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend, Oregon, the all-girl acoustic/indie/alt/chamber-pop band has a whole new lineup and sound that just might knock you off your feet if you come expecting a sound as soft and saccharine as their name implies.

For the first time ever, the Harlots will be playing with a man on stage. Bassist Patrick Pearsall will join the Harlots at McMenamins for a performance that promises to be more rock than folk. Patrick joins the Harlots at the request of percussionist Shireen Amini, who insisted the band bring in a bass player to lock in her drum kit with Laurel's guitar. Though the Harlots were at first reluctant, they figured if that is what is was going to take to get the girl (Shireen), Patrick was in.

Read all

I noticed there's a new restaurant(ish) place that's opened up on the Eastside: "The East Village" is the new second location of the Village Baker (who still have their main Westside space), located in the old Demetri's space at 425 NE Windy Knolls. (Across from Bend Pet Express and Wells Fargo.)

Essentially they're just a second outlet for the Village Baker: they sell their artisan breads and baked goods, of course, but they also have soups, sandwiches, and coffee available too (and probably salads), with a decent seating space. (If you'd ever been in to Demetri's Greek Cusina back in the day, the layout is still essentially the same.)

Looks to be the same menu as the Westside location: most items are under $10 and sound really good.

All in all, it's another good lunch option on the Eastside, and a convenient place to get some unique baked goods. Right on.

In the next day or three, I'll have this year's "Free (or nearly free) Summertime Activity Guide" posted, similar to the ones I've posted the last couple of years. It's exactly what it says, a guide to free summer activities for the Bend area. Something that's important this year more than ever!

Got any tips? It's going to be a big guide, including (and updating) all the stuff from the past two years, so if you see anything not on those lists that you think should be mentioned, let me know.

And it doesn't have to be completely free; if it only costs a few bucks, that's fine too. It's recession-conscious!