There is a new transit shuttle route being offered by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council between Bend and La Pine that goes into effect this Monday the 4th. Here's some text from the email I received:

Beginning Monday, August 4, the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) will begin offering a new shuttle route between Bend and La Pine.

COIC has added a completely new route to accommodate people living in South County who work from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or traditionally, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

"We want clients to understand that this schedule is only a starting point for the new route to and from South County," said COIC Operations Director Karen Fenty Friend. "This schedule will adjust through time, but for now it gives transportation options to La Pine residents who need to travel to Bend doctor appointments or to work," she said.

Apparently, there was a non-profit transit shuttle between the two towns but that's being halted on Friday—and it was such a vital service that COIC stepped in to help.

I'm not totally clear on the backstory, but it looks like COIC has an entity known as "Cascades East Transit" which provides shuttle service between area towns—prior to adding this new La Pine route. They require reservations and round-trip fares are $6.25 ($5 for seniors and the disabled). I've attached their revised schedule here (PDF).

I didn't know there was such a service (beyond BAT); seems to me that's something the COIC or somebody should be advertising and talking about more.

Posted on the Blacksmith's blog today, their Wednesday beer tasting lineup: IPAs. If any style embodies the "West Coast", it's the hoppy India Pale Ale.

For our final Beer Tasting this month we will focus on India Pale Ales or IPAs.  Please join us to sample 5 great beers.

• Mikkeller All Others Pale
  American Pale Ale | Copenhagen, Denmark | 6.0% ABV
• Great Devide Titan IPA
  India Pale Ale (IPA) | Denver, Colorado | 6.8% ABV
• Green Flash West Coast IPA
  India Pale Ale (IPA) | San Diego, California | 7.0% ABV
• Deschutes Hophenge
  Imperial IPA | Bend, Oregon | 8.1% ABV
• AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer)
  Imperial IPA | San Diego, California | 8.5% ABV

Join The Blacksmith’s own beer connoisseur’s study group in the Anvil Room this Wednesday, July 30th, from 5-7 PM. $10 per person.

No, I'm not being politically incorrect, and yes, it's a first for this blog. Read the following press release to find out more.

Event:
That’s So Gay
-Bend’s Premier Queer Night

Who’s Performing:

• The Obsessors – Female-fronted punk rock band from San Jose, CA: http://www.theobsessors.com
• The Uglies – Three piece rock band from San Jose, CA: http://www.myspace.com/theugliessj
• Berlesquire – Portland’s finest male burlesque troupe: http://www.myspace.com/burlesquire
• River City Riders – Portland’s Newest Drag King Dance Troupe: http://www.myspace.com/rivercityriders
• Live DJ’s

Where:
The Tulen Center
20 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend, OR 97701
(Next to Silver Moon Brewing)

When:
Saturday, August 16th
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm, lasts until 2am.

Ages:
18 and over outside, 21+ Bar with ID inside.

Cost:
$8.00 in advance at Bend Distillery downtown Martini Bar, spicetraderrecords.com, or at Spice Trader Records’ DJ nights at Players Bar & Grill. $10.00 at the door.

Sponsors:
Spice Trader Records, Bend Distillery, Sinn Savvy Productions, Sideshow Entertainment, Human Dignity Coalition

I'm really late posting this "Last year" theme this month... totally spaced it earlier. But it's good blog fodder and I like the retrospective aspect.

So, let's see...

In 2006:

• Pet Parade photos
• Pointed to Munch N Music (which starts in July)
• I wrote about the Bond Street Barber Shop
• Found out about Redmond's Music on the Green
• The (now (in)famous) Bend Restaurants blog started
• A skating date with the Renegade Rollergirls

In 2007:

• We saw last year's Gusto's reader's choice awards (lots of comments)
• A reader tip about Baldy's secret sauce
• First notice of the 4 Peaks Music Festival
• Jake's Diner first introduced the Elvis cinnamon roll
• Besides SummerFest and Munch N Music, I looked at Redmond's Sunfest
• We had a giveaway for free tickets to The Fray
• The Camalli Book Company debuted

There's a "pre-fest party" for the 4 Peaks Music Festival tomorrow (Thursday) night at the Astro Lounge; here is the email I received:

Join 4 Peaks at the Astro Lounge this Thursday, July 24 from 8pm - 11pm for a taste of what's to come this weekend:

• Meet and greet artists and special performances
• Buy 4 Peaks tickets at the Pre-Fest Party and get $5 off the discounted Early Bird price
• Bud Light Lime promo

The Astro Lounge is located in downtown Bend at 147 NW Minnesota Ave.
For details, call 541-388-0116.

By now everyone's probably heard that Kayo's is closing it's two restaurants—their "Roadhouse" in Redmond and their "Roadhouse East" in Bend. (Apparently there's a Kayo's Sports Bar in the north end of Bend that's remaining open? Though the KTVZ article mentions it's in southeast Bend... Anyone actually know where this place is at?)

But I was over at the Factory Outlets on the south end of Bend and was surprised to see that the kids store "Bear Hugz" was also closed—no sign, windows dark, everything.

(Bear Hugz was the same type of place as the Build-a-Bear Workshop: you get to choose and "build" your own teddy bear or plush toy, with accessories and everything.)

It's getting kind of crazy the sudden closures that seem to be popping up. Anyone know of any others?

This one slipped in under the radar, and it sounds like it's for a good cause.

Clothes for Life: A sale to benefit Myanmar Relief
On July 26th from 10am-6pm in front of Newport Market.
The students of 180 student ministries from Westside church have been cleaning out their closets and will be selling them to raise money to aid the relief effort in Myanmar.

Never thought I'd have Myanmar (Burma) on a Bend blog, eh?

I received a couple of emails today regarding Central Oregon's newest microbrewery, Three Creeks Brewing Company, located in Sisters. The first was from Wade Underwood, the owner, letting me know that they are officially open for business (a few weeks early).

The other was from Geoffrey of AllAroundBend.com, with a mini-review:

Three Creeks Brewery in Sisters is open as of today!

They had a real nice black ipa, a so-so blonde, and a good pale ale. Half a dozen other beers to come in the upcoming month.

Food was decent, staff was kinda green though. Overall a great addition to the beer scene. Definitely a good thing for Sisters.
Best part is they have a mug club where for $75 a year all pints are upgraded fro 16 to a 21oz, free merchandise, special pairing dinner initiations, etc. Looks like a great deal for locals.

(Emphasis mine. Naturally, I'm most interested in hearing about the beers.)

TCBC is located on the east side of Sisters, near the town's (only) movie house in their FivePine development. It's facing Highway 20. The theme is rustic, Old West livery stable. You probably remember that I've written about it before.

Remember the Fourth of July fireworks crackdown? Anyone want to guess how that went?

Jake has the answer. (I got the email too, but since Jake already has it up, I'm being lazy and pointing to his.)

In brief: 3 actual citations at $1000 each; 152 "contacts"; 14 confiscations. I think the effort and the intent is worthwhile, but that's not too impressive.

To show their appreciation to the community (so says their ad in The Source), Whole Foods (formerly Wild Oats) is discounting everything in the store by 10% for today. (On regularly-priced items.)

The beer keeps on rolling down at the Blacksmith's Wednesday tastings; this week it's Belgian style beers.

• Poperings Hommel Ale
  Belgian Strong Ale | Poperinge-Watou, Belgium
  7.5% ABV
• Ommegang Hennepin
  Saison | Cooperstown, New York
  7.7% ABV
• Fantôme Saison
  Saison | Soy-Erezée, Belgium
  8% ABV
• Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
  Abbey Tripel | Chambly, Canada
  9% ABV
• Midnight Sun La Mâitresse du Moine
  Abbey Dubbel | Anchorage, Alaska
  9% ABV

Join The Blacksmith’s own beer connoisseur’s study group in the Anvil Room this Wednesday, July 16th, from 5-7 PM. $10 per person.

The 4 Peaks Music Festival is fast approaching. This is officially from a press release, but it's a good rundown of the schedule and activities going on.

Named one the best live concerts of 2007 by The Bulletin's music critic Ben Salmon, The 4 Peaks Music Festival returns for second year to Central Oregon's high desert this July 25-26 with even more music, camping, food, beverage, crafts and kids' fun. The momentum means a bigger and better event, expanding the 20-acre venue to 80 acres to allow for more camping and a designated family camping area. The musical line-up also blossomed into 20 bands from last year's 17 and includes highly regarded national touring bands, as well as local favorites.

Click through to read full schedule

I'm way behind on posting some things that people have sent, so I'm catching up a bit. (Caveat: I don't post every single thing sent to me, only the stuff I think is interesting/relevant to the blog.)

This YPN event is this Wednesday, the 16th.

Celebrate with the Bend Chamber Young Professionals Network (YPN) at its two year anniversary birthday bash at Bend Metro Park and Recreation District’s Hollinshead Barn July 16 from 5:30-7:30pm on NE Jones Road. Enjoy live music by Avenue H, delicious food from Fireside Red, Izzy’s Pizza and others along with beverages provided by Deschutes Brewery, Volcano Vineyards and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Oregon. Fantastic door prizes will also be drawn at this highly attended event.

Never been to a YPN event? Now is a great time to get involved. This group is specifically designed to help young professionals network with other business professionals in a fun and inviting environment. YPN also promotes community involvement with quarterly fundraisers for local charities and nonprofits. At YPN’s most recent event in June, the group was proud to sign-up 44 attendees to donate blood for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Registration is available on-line at www.bendchamber.org/ypn or by phone at 382-3221. For Chamber members the cost is $7 in advance; $12 for non-members. The cost increases to $15 at the door.

We were downtown today during the early stages of the Cascade Cycling Classic Downtown Crit, and I snapped off a few photos of the bicyclers in action. Exciting stuff!

Click through to see the rest of the pictures

Some notes about a couple of big-name concerts coming to Bend the next couple of months. The first is Sheryl Crow, on Thursday, August 28th at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. The Ticketmaster detail is here. Tickets go on sale generally on Saturday, July 12th, ranging in price from $45 to $85—though there is an internet-only presale tomorrow, Friday the 11th on the Ticketmaster site (I presume) from 10 until 5.

The other concert is the Stone Temple Pilots, on Monday, September 1st. Ticketmaster page here. (Les Schwab Amphitheater also.) Cost ranges from $39 to $69.

The Ticket Mill in the Old Mill District sells tickets also, and they're advertising a $5 discount per ticket if you pay cash.

Sheryl Crow is cool, but STP is kind of out of left field. Which one will draw the bigger crowd, I wonder?

It started today; running through Sunday the 13th, it's

the longest consecutively run elite stage race in the country and has attracted most of North America's top cyclists and teams over the years. The quality of the race courses, the beauty of Central Oregon and the fun atmosphere of the race has made it a perennial favorite and has the competitors returning year after year.

I always think "Tour de Central Oregon" in regards to the CCC. Most of the stages are all over the place (and man they look grueling) but the ever-popular "Twilight Crit" is in downtown Bend this Friday the 11th, starting at 3pm and staggered at various times after that.

They of course close the downtown streets for that, starting at 2 (and they'll remain closed for the Summerfest this weekend)—so make sure your car is out of the area by that time or your car will likely be towed (or trapped). (I've included their route map below.)

Apparently the Blacksmith didn't limit its beer tastings to Wednesdays in June (which is a good thing); tomorrow they have a Wit Beer tasting:

This is one of those beer styles that fits in perfectly on a warm summer day. Come sample 5 unique Wit Beers this Wednesday, July 9th.

• Pinkus Organic Hefe Weizen
  German Hefeweizen | Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
  5.1% ABV
• Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel
  Dunkelweizen | Munich, Germany
  5.5% ABV
• De Proefbrouwerij La Grande Blanche
  Belgian White (Witbier) | Lochristi, Belgium
  7.5% ABV
• Chimay Triple White
  Abbey Tripel | Baileux, Belgium
  8% ABV
• Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock
  Eisbock | Kelheim, Germany
  12% ABV

Join The Blacksmith’s own beer connoisseur’s study group in the Anvil Room this Wednesday, July 9th, from 5-7 PM. $10 per person.

Hard to believe, but it's the Bend Summer Fest already—this weekend, Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th. For me it's the best of the "seasonal festivals" and one I enjoy visiting each year.

It is of course held in Downtown Bend, and the following streets are closed: Wall Street between Franklin and Greenwood; Oregon and Minnesota Avenues from Bond westward.

There's artists booths, a kids area, food, beer and wine, and free music on four separate stages. Including—if you can believe it—the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on the Main Stage at 8:30 Saturday night. For free.

Times are 11-10 Saturday, 11-6 Sunday. Be there!

Snapped a few pictures of the first part of our Fourth of July. We hit the Pet Parade (of course!), checked out the park antics briefly, then visited the Library's book sale and finished by checking out the free admission to the Deschutes Historical Society and enjoying their free ice cream.

Click through to see the rest of the pictures

Following up to yesterday's post about 4th of July goings-on, here's some more:

• (From the comments) The Freedom Ride! I forgot about this—bike riders meet at Pioneer Park at 2pm and cruise through town for fun.
• Straight from the comments: Also at Bend High School there will be a concert called "Sound Forth". There are several local choirs participating (I think 90+ singers and 60+ band members). It is at 3:00 at Bend Senior High.
  
  Also following the concert there will be FREE BBQ across the street at First Presbyterian Church. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, pie, brownies, popsicles. It is being hosted by the 6th-12th graders and they will be taking donations to support their mission work.
• The Deschutes Historical Society is having their annual Ice Cream Social: the Museum is open to the public and they give away free ice cream. 10 until 4.

Lots of things happening this Fourth of July, which falls on Friday this year. I've updated the calendar, but here's a rundown:

• The Pet Parade and Old Fashioned Celebration, Downtown. Starting at 10am, this is a perennial favorite; people walking pets of all stripe through downtown. Then the rest of the celebration is taken up in Drake Park, from 11 til 4, where "You'll find craft and food booths, old fashioned games like three legged races, watermelon eating contest and water balloon contest as well as wonderful live entertainment."
• Also starting at 10 (and lasting until 4) is the Friends of the Bend Library Summer Book Sale. Deals to be found here as always.
• WebCyclery's Firecracker 100 Bike Ride is a July 4th tradition (it's their 9th). "Patriotic clothing is recommended, so wear your stars and stripes! The ride is about 65 miles (starts and finishes in Alfalfa), is fully supported, and has a rest/food stop in Prineville. Meet at the corner of Alfalfa Market Road & Johnson Ranch Road (at the power station). Ride begins at 8-8:30AM (Beat the Heat)."
• It is also First Friday, and since I haven't heard otherwise, I'll assume it's still going on (didn't know if it was clashing with the holiday?). Downtown Bend and the Old Mill hosts art gallery receptions with music and (typically) wine and snacks. Starts at 5 and runs until 9 or so.
• The Fourth of July BBQ at Jake's Diner runs from 6 until 8pm, and people are welcome to watch the Pilot Butte fireworks from their parking lot.
• Of course, the annual fireworks show from Pilot Butte starts at 10pm, and lasts about 20 minutes. Don't miss it!

Outside of Bend:

• Sunriver Resort has an Old Fashioned Carnival from 4 to 8pm and provides a shuttle ($15 per person) to take you into Bend to watch the Pilot Butte fireworks.
• Redmond has their own parade downtown starting at 10am, and a fireworks show at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center starting approximately at 9pm.
• Prineville's Old Fashioned 4th of July has a multi-event race, a pancake breakfast, parade, music and vendors in the park, and fireworks from their viewpoint in the evening.
• La Pine's Frontier Days are running through the weekend, with their own parade at 10:30am and fireworks at 10pm.
• Out in Culver at Maragas Winery (north of the Gorge), they're having their Independence Day Weekend Barbecue. Through Sunday, from 12 until 5 each day. Cost is $10 for wine and cheese tasting, and there will be music and winery tours.
• Sisters Elementary School hosts the weekend's "Sisters Round-up of Gems"—free admission. Not necessarily directly related to the Fourth, but it always takes places on the respective weekend.
• Black Butte Ranch has a ton of things going on, including a Bike Decorating Party and following Bike Parade, live entertainment, and a BBQ picnic. Cost is $15 for the BBQ.

Wildfire Brewing has kegs for sale for this 4th of July. Dock sales format, and there might be some dock sale deals to be found, too.

Prices:

• 5 gallon soda-style keg (1/6 bbl): $58
• Pony keg (1/2 bbl): $74
• Full 50L keg: $113

You can find Wildfire at:

20750 High Desert Lane #107 (off of Empire across from Mt. Hood Beverage)
(541) 585-1007

Each year Commute Options Week helps commuters save gas, improve air quality and get some exercise by reducing miles traveled.

Combined, the 8,250 employees from 92 businesses who participated in the Commuter Challenge Monday through Friday from June 16-22, eliminated a record 46,390 motor vehicle miles from our local roads.

“Many of our challenge participants are year round partners but we had a lot of first-time challengers also which is encouraging” says Chloe Honaker, Commute Options Week Coordinator. A good example is Bank of the Cascades who registered all of its branches for the first time ever. “This was such an awesome opportunity to get the department involved in a shared interest, improve the health of our selves, our environment and to encourage continued mindful commuting. Thanks to our coordinator Cris and Commute Options for Central Oregon!” says Jaime Eichman in the Mortgage Center.

Continue reading press release

I just found out today that Ernesto's Italian Restaurant closed suddenly on Monday (yesterday)—here's the article that appeared in today's paper:

Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant — a fixture on the Third Street corridor since 1996 — closed Monday.

Soaring food prices, an economic downturn and possibly a theme that had run its course in restaurant-saturated Bend all contributed to the closure, said Michael Ceccanti, the co-owner along with his wife, Jackie.

“The economy in the last year and a half has really gone negative,” said Ceccanti, 59. “The harder we try, the worse it is.”

The news is pretty surprising, and sucks; I enjoyed eating there, and they had a hard-to-beat lunch deal.

Jake's Diner is hosting another Fourth of July BBQ for Vietnam Veterans this year:

Jake’s Diner and the Vietnam Veterans of America are partnering on a BBQ at Jake’s on the evening of the Fourth of July. All proceeds will be going to the Vietnam Veterans of America.

The BBQ will start at 6PM with entertainment from the “Taelour Project” in Jake’s parking lot from 6PM until 8PM.

Everyone is welcome to stay at Jake’s for a great position to watch the fireworks from their parking lot. Please, no alcohol or fireworks.

Who: Jake’s and VVA.
What: Fourth of July BBQ
When: July 4th, 2008 at 6PM
Where: Jake’s Diner
2210 NE Hwy 20
Bend, OR 97701
541-382-0118

For any more information, please call Lyle at 419-6021

It's an all-you-can eat BBQ with chicken and ribs. The only info I don't have is the price.