Downtown Bend just finished up with their Oktoberfest and now it's time for the Bend Fall Festival already—this weekend, October 4th and 5th.

The routine is pretty much the same as for the other seasonal festivals: several blocks of Downtown Bend will be blocked to traffic and opened to artisans selling their wares, several stages with live music, beer and wine gardens, the food court, and lots of milling people. The Fall Festival has a few autumn-themed activities going on that differentiate it a bit:

• Pumpkin pie judging
• Pumpkin painting contest
• Pumpkin carving contest
• Pony and hay rides for the kids

They also had a straw bale maze built one year we went, which was fun for the kids.

I believe the Festival opens at 11 both days.

We visited the new Three Creeks Brewing Company over in Sisters on Saturday, and I wrote up a long-ish review (with photos) over on my beer blog here. The verdict: good food, decent beer.

Overall, we all agreed the beer is decent and drinkable, and I think they're doing some interesting enough things (like the IBA and the Rye) to keep them noticed and fresh.

Beers are $4 per pint, and growlers and apparently bottles are available to go as well.

... The food, though, was good all around. Paul kept raving about his "Chicken-bacon-tater" meal, which was essentially all those ingredients in a flatbread taco thing smothered (I think) in cheese and stuff. Decadent, you know. I ordered fish and chips, which is pretty standard for me whenever I first visit a brewpub—I figure it's a good measure of the place—and it was a solid plate.

Enjoy great beer, catch some open mic performances and support The Nature of Words at "Ales for Authors" on Wednesday, October 1, at Bend's Silver Moon Brewing. The evening's $3.00 cover charge will go to benefit Central Oregon's premier literary festival, scheduled for November 5-9, 2008. Local slam poet Jason Graham will emcee the Open Mic from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Silver Moon Brewing is located at 24 NW Greenwood Avenue.

Read full press release

That's right, the festivities start at 6pm today (until 10pm) and then all day tomorrow, from noon to 10pm. The page for it is here.

Activities for everyone-Celebrity Yodeling Contest, Hammer Schlagen, Wiener Dog Races

GREAT Kids Area with puppet shows, face painting and tons more until 6pm, Saturday, (21+ after 6pm Saturday)

Naturally there will be lots of beer pouring, as well as German food and live music. It only costs $5 to get in, but if you want the commemorative stein (which I would hope is glass), it'll cost you another 15 bucks.

Food is billed at $3 per plate, and from their flyer looks to be provided by Deschutes Brewery, Merenda, the Blacksmith, and Volo.

And no, I don't know what's involved with the "celebrity yodeling"... though "wiener dog races" should speak for itself.

Oh, and it's all self-contained on Oregon Avenue, between Brooks and Bond Street. Look for the big tent.

My wife spotted this on craigslist: "Whose Line is it Anyway" Tickets On Sale.

Thats right, the Hit TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway" with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood is coming to Bend High School Auditorium Sept 28th...[3] days away!!

And Today we are giving Craigslist people a discount on tickets. If you Come to Sidelines Bar & Grill on Wall St and buy your tickets today, you will receive $5 off each ticket. Just mention CRAIGSLIST...we can only take csh or check there.

You can also get tickets at colinandbradshow.com with a credit card. But there is no discount there, sorry.

Random. I wonder if it's just the two guys, or there are others with them? We used to watch the show, but a big part of what made it funny was Drew Carey.

If you're familiar with Twitter, then you likely know what a "tweet" more-or-less refers to. If you don't follow Twitter, then, ah... I guess you should start.

Julie Anderson (of Chubby Mommy Running Club fame) sends this along:

Alert! Impromptu "Tweet-Up" tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 24th) at the Black Smith restaurant, down town Bend. No host happy hour, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Twitterers, bloggers, geeks, and friends all welcome. We may move on to a brew pub afterwards, depending on the crowd. At least 20 have confirmed, the more the merrier.

If you want to get in touch with Julie for more info, let me know and I'll pass it along. (I'm a little reticent about putting personal emails online. Don't we get enough spam?)

To raise awareness of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bend Memorial Clinic has partnered up with local Bend florists.

During the month of October, every woman scheduled for a mammogram will receive flowers donated by All Occasion Flowers, Autry’s, Donners, Fred Meyer and Wildflowers.

According to the American Cancer Society, an over 178,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. Over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer and around 2,000 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008.

To schedule a mammogram, please call the Bend Memorial Clinic appointment center at 541-382-2811.

The wait is over! Registration and tickets for The Nature of Words, Central Oregon's premier literary event, scheduled for November 5-9, 2008 in Bend, Oregon are now available. Tickets for guest author readings, workshops and the dinner and panel discussion can be purchased at The Ticket Mill, Old Mill District, Bend in person or via phone (541.318.5457). Tickets to the two nights of author readings only are also available at the Tower Theatre box office (phone 541.317.0700) or via www.towertheatre.org. Author reading tickets are free to students with valid ID and discounted for seniors age 65 and over only at the Ticket Mill.

Read full press release

Tuesday, September 23rd (that's tomorrow!), Deschutes Brewery is celebrating 21 years of Jubelale with a launch party for the seasonal beer at their downtown Pub. The toast is at 5pm and there will three variations of Jubelale on tap: regular, cask conditioned, and nitro.

Here's the special menu for the evening:

• Bison Meatloaf
• Jubelale Short Ribs
• Jubelale & Hoisin Braised Boneless Short Ribs
• Pizza Special: House-Made Jubelale Infused Spent Grain Pizza Dough
• Pasta Special: Pan Seared Pacific Salmon Served Over Angel Hair Pasta
• Dessert Special: Jubelale Ice Cream

Also, the artist for this year's label (since each year is custom painted), Pam Jersey Bird, will be on hand, signing posters (presumably of the label).

The Pot of Gold Thrift Store in downtown Bend is having a big garage/clearance sale today and tomorrow—I know, I'm late announcing this for today, but fortunately they're going all day tomorrow (Saturday) too.

Pot of Gold Thrift Store Clearance Sale
1128 NW Hill Street in Bend
Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The sale will feature all-you-can-fill bags for just $3.

The Rainbow Clubhouse is a Deschutes County Mental Health program whose members have been socially and vocationally disabled by mental illness. Clubhouse staff work side by side with members in the running of the Clubhouse and the Pot of Gold Thrift Store. The daily focus is on strengths, talents and abilities of each member.

The store itself is rather unobtrusive and possibly hard to find if you haven't looked for it before. Here's a picture that was sent along with the notice:

All you can bag for $3, not bad. This might be a good sale for eBay addicts.

Just over a year ago I posted about how Redmond was looking for a new slogan to re-invent its brand identity, "in four words or less." I thought it was slightly ridiculous, though they were awarding a $500 cash prize to whomever submitted the winning tagline.

Well, they've selected and revealed their new slogan:

"Who Knew!"

I'm not kidding. You can visit the Redmond Downtown Partnership right now and read their press release:

The new tagline epitomizes the surprise reaction people exhibit when they learn about Redmond Downtown, according to city officials and the Redmond Downtown Partnership (RDP). As part of Friday's Walk the Art Beat celebration, The RDP announced the new Who Knew! branding campaign and, for the first time, publicly revealed the new logo....

The Who Knew! branding campaign begins this year and is expected to last through at least the next two years. It will capitalize on Redmond Downtown as an up-and-coming top destination in Central Oregon. Kick-started by the new logo and tagline, the brand effort will augment the City, Chamber and other key local entities in attracting more tourists and business to Redmond. The plan includes more community events, opportunities for businesses to co-op group advertising, regional public relations, and marketing that highlights specific district businesses.

I'm not sure what to think, though my initials reactions aren't very positive. "Who Knew!" actually sounds like something snarky I might have come up with.

"OLCV" stands for "Oregon League of Conservation Voters" and this Saturday, September 20th, they're having their annual barbecue and fundraiser.

Please join the Deschutes County Chapter of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters for its annual barbeque and fundraiser, hosted by Ruth Williamson and Lou Pepper. You'll have a chance to meet Jodie Barram, Jim Clinton, Peter Gramlich, and Linda Johnson, candidates for Bend City Council, and learn why they received OLCV's endorsement.

You'll also discover how a modest gift to OLCV will make a difference in the election of these excellent, visionary candidates.

Save the date: Saturday, September 20th from 5:30-8:00 PM at the Sunrise Village Clubhouse, 19560 Sunshine Way. Burgers will be flipped, drinks will be poured. Hope to see you there.

What is the OLCV exactly? Here's the short description from the the contact form email:

OLCV is essentially the political arm of Oregon's environmental movement. We are a non-partisan organization that interviews and then endorses candidates based on their environmental records and positions. We also work to get pro-environment candidates elected.

Note that the BBQ is free, and donations are very much appreciated and encouraged. If nothing else, it's a good chance to meet some Bend City Council members and candidates.

Yes, according to this article in today's Bulletin, The Paper Place downtown—between Cork and U.S. Bank—is for sale for only one dollar.

The gimmick, of course, is that the "inventory" is for sale for $65,000 to $70,000.

Schiefelbine said she’s leaving in late October for California, regardless. If no one purchases the business by the end of September, Schiefelbine said she will hold a “huge blowout sale” throughout October to sell off as much inventory as possible. She’ll also have to break her lease, but Schiefelbine said she has her landlord’s approval.

But closing the business is not her preference. She said The Paper Place has been a fixture downtown for 24 years, albeit with different owners, and she would hate to see it go.

“One dollar — that’s how bad I want it to stay open,” Schiefelbine said. “Downtown is so quaint, I would hate for it to lose a local, family-run store. I’d rather someone keep the store open for Bend.”

I agree with that last line—it's the type of store downtown does need, so I hope someone buys it.

On the other hand, what if I don't care about the inventory? Can I just buy the space for the buck?

It's a random thing to celebrate, but McMenamins has a "Halfway to St. Patrick's Day" celebration this Wednesday, the 17th.

Just six months to go, lads! So let's have a celebration, shall we? Come out for live music by the Little North Forkers, Irish dancers, food and drink specials and more. Wear your Irish best, because… well, why not?

5:30 p.m. • BAGPIPER, IRISH DANCERS & FACEPAINTERS
7:00 p.m. • THE LITTLE NORTH FORKERS • Folk & bluegrass

It's free (except for the beer and food, of course) and all ages are welcome.

Kina doesn't even live in Bend anymore, and she's still finding good deals. Today she posted about Sidelines' weekend breakfast specials—for only $5.

Saturday and Sunday from 9am til 1pm, you can head down to Sidelines Sports Bar, on Wall Street next to the old Penney Galleria, and grub up some "Hangover Breakfast Specials": things like biscuits and gravy, a Denver omelet, and—wow—French toast flavored with Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum and Bailey's Irish Creme (in the batter).

Naturally, this got me thinking, where else in town can you get a good breakfast like this?

This Sunday (the 14th) is one of those signature Bend events: The Great Drake Park Duck Race. $5 buys you a rubber duck (up to 30,000 maximum) that will be dumped into Mirror Pond downtown and the winning ducks at the finish line win a variety of prizes.

Here's the schedule for the day:

11:00 am to 4:00 pm - Festivities in park—Music, Food & Activity Booths
12:00 pm - Kids Race (1,000 Ducks)
2:00 pm - Race Start! (Galveston Bridge)
2:23 pm - Estimated time winning Ducks begin to cross the Finish Line (Mirror Pond Foot Bridge)
3:00 pm - Winners & Awards are announced at staging area in Drake Park
4:00 pm - Festivities end

(I like the 2:23pm estimate.)

So there are festivites aplenty this Sunday in the Park.

On a side note, I wish there was some authoritative history of the Duck Race online and easily findable... something like a Wikipedia entry. I think the Duck Race first started back in 1990 or '91 but I'm not sure. It would be interesting to see the progression over the years.

Pregnancy Resource Centers of Central Oregon (PRCCO) is holding a benefit golf event, "Golf Fore Life" on Saturday, September 20 to benefit women and teens living in Central Oregon who may be pregnant.

Golfing begins at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 20 at Missing Link Family Golf Center in Redmond. Golf for free! PRCCO is asking for a cash donation. Win many prizes throughout the day! Top fundraiser wins Eagle Crest 7 Night Stay (Spring Break ’09). Purchase a spin on prize wheel for a chance to win additional prizes. Shoot 9 Holes all day!

Live music begins at 1:00 pm – The Bluegrass Boys! Enjoy face painting for the kids and balloons! Hot dog purchase proceeds go to PRCCO.

Read full press release

This is one of those thing I'd never heard of; but I imagine for people with diabetes, it's a pretty vital thing. Hosted by BMC, this is basically a press release in flyer format:

For children, adolescent, adult patients and their families.

Thursday, September 25, 2008
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Bend Memorial Clinic, Physicians Lounge (Second floor, upstairs from the main entrance)
Non-BMC Patients Welcome!

• Learn more about the insulin pump delivery system.
• Improve the effectiveness of boluses.
• Explore advanced insulin pump features.
• Troubleshoot with other insulin pump patients.

The COWPU blog has the details on the latest usergroup meeting:

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 4:00pm

Topic: The ultimate web balance between brand, search, content
Location: McMenamin's Old St Francis School - Rambler Room

Agenda:
4:00pm - Doors open, networking
4:30pm - Announcements and door prizes
4:45pm - Presentation

Starting at 4? Seems a bit early, most other meetings have started around 6.

More interesting retrospective to the past couple of Septembers here on the blog. Scintillating reading, I tell you!

In 2006:

• A short rundown of used book stores in Bend (still mostly the same)
• First notice of COWPU (which started in October '06)
• Excitement over the announcement of Transit (and a follow-up)
• A post about The Shire. Kind of ironic, huh?
• Observing Bend Oktoberfest
• Finding out all the local phone prefixes

In 2007:

• Iron Horse thrift store
• Why the Eastside Rocks: #6 Vince Genna Stadium
• Hans Restaurant had a garage sale (after closing)
• My idea of how Bend is divided into regions
• Eastside Rocks #7: The Medical District
• Redmond - in four words or less
• Eastside Rocks #8: Zydeco
• Construction progress on Trader Joe's (a picture)
• We found out Boomtown was closing
• Eastside Rocks #9: The Masonic Lodge
• Eastside Rocks #10: Hollinshead Park
• KOHD was set to launch (then moved a couple days)
• I launched the Hack Bend event calendar
• Eastside Rocks #11: Eastside Liquor
• Rumor mill on the Blacksmith remodel
• Eastside Rocks #12: Clotheslines

I haven't run anything about The Nature of Words for awhile, so here's the latest press release. One thing I thought was really cool but I don't think I blogged about was that they have writer Ursula K. Le Guin(!!!) coming here in November.

Latino Experience Inspires Exploration of Real and Imagined Borders

Inspired by several guest authors who speak to the Latino experience, The Nature of Words 2008 literary festival will focus on a theme of "Borders". Whether social, political, geographical, or personal, borders both define and liberate the creativity and works of the acclaimed authors on the roster for The Nature of Words events November 5-9, 2008.

Three authors are engaged in describing or reflecting the Latino experience, both in the U.S. and beyond its borders. Luis Urrea was a 2005 Pulitzer Prize nominee for The Devil's Highway, a non-fiction account of a group of Mexican immigrants lost in the Arizona desert. His recent novel, The Hummingbird's Daughter, is the culmination of 20 years of research and writing. The historical novel tells the story of Teresa Urrea, sometimes known as The Saint of Cabora and the Mexican Joan of Arc. Born in Tijuana, Mexico to a Mexican father and an American mother, Urrea has published extensively in all the major genres.

Read full press release

Everyone should know by now that when I mention beer, I'm almost always talking craft beer and/or microbrew. This weekend we had family in town and spent a good portion of it introducing them to the various breweries here, some of which they knew, some they didn't.

So I can say that the best beer deals are to be found at Silver Moon and JC's (Wildfire): Monday night at Silver Moon is Locals Night where the pints are $2.50 (and the pool and foosball is always free), and Monday through Friday at JC's, happy hour is from 3 to 6pm and all Wildfire brews are $2. Yes, only two dollars, you read that right. I think that's the best beer deal anywhere in town for micros.

This is kind of a cross between a press release and a McMenamins event listing, but what the hey. I like WebCyclery and I've noticed that they've been doing these movie nights for awhile.

TRANSITION 2 - 'Cross The Pond'
9:00 p.m. | $5 per person | 21 & over

Getting excited for Cross Season? The WebCyclery Thrilla Cross Series begins on Thursday nights in September, and to celebrate we're bringing a cyclocross film to the next WebCyclery Movie Night @ McMenamins!

Transition 2 brings you the Belgian cyclo-cross scene from the perspective of American racers. This high definition film spends the holiday season of 2005 following a group of North Americans as they race with the best in the world in the harsh and unforgiving heartland of cyclo-cross racing. A funny and intimate look at these foreigners' experiences on and off the race course.

Features Brandon Dwight, Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks, Danny Summerhill, and more...

While WebCyclery Movie Night at McMenamins is a fund raiser for Central Oregon Trail Alliance (cotamtb.com), it is mostly an excuse to get together with a theater full of like-minded cyclists to watch an exciting bicycle movie, drink a favorite beverage, raise some money for local trails, and maybe win a cool cyclocross door prize provided by Ryan Trebon and our friends at Salsa and Kona.

90 Minutes.

Link to the DVD and preview:
http://www.webcyclery.com/product.php?productid=18226&cat=0&page=1