Tomorrow night (Friday) there debuts the first annual "Bend Bicycle Film Festival" at the Tower Theatre.

Yep, it's a new one to me, too. Here's the press release:

The first annual Bend Bicycle Film Festival debuts at the Tower Theatre Friday night, May 29, celebrating the wonders and joys of riding bikes. The festival, a benefit for the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and the Bend Cycling Club, will showcase locally-made film shorts and slideshows followed by a big screen presentation of Freeride Entertainment's New World Disorder 9: Never Enough.

"The format for the locally-made portion of the show will run the gamut of cycling genres," says Paul Lissette, festival organizer. Submissions included cross-country, road, snow, spoof, one-wheel, freeride, urban shredding, desert riding, strange attire, BMX, and Cyclocross footage.

"Several locally well-known film makers and riders will exhibit their skill and creativity at the show," says Lissette. Jonas Tarlen - popular for his humorous backcountry ski films - makes a foray into the backcountry on his mountain bike. Steve Remer of 88 Productions will keep audiences on the edge of their seat with his action-packed footage. And Pro mountain biker Kirt Voreis stars in a Radical Films short clip.

The show will be open to those of all ages. "The top half of Tower Theatre will be a no-alcohol zone to encourage youth and families to attend the event," says Lissette.

Doors will open at 6pm; the show will start at 7pm. Tickets are available for $10 at all local bike shops or online or at the Tower Theatre box office. Bike commuting to the event is encouraged; bicycle parking available outside the Tower Theatre. There will be a raffle of donated prizes by various sponsors at intermission.

News that's both surprising and not so surprising in light of GM's dismal economic condition today: KBND reports that Bob Thomas is in dire straits:

Bob Thomas said they received a letter from officials at GM advising them that their contract will not be renewed in 2010. Thomas says they are astonished and dismayed at the decision.

I always thought Bob Thomas was one of the good ones, so that sucks. They're organizing a campaign to send "e-mails and letters of support" to GM and politicians; if you want to contribute send an email to rthomas@bobthomas.com.

A collection of random bits that have been emailed in:

• Oregon ties for 8th place for the best drivers in the nation. Of course, the person who emailed me the link pointed out that California ranks 4th from the bottom.
• There is a free earthquake talk this Saturday (the 30th) at the COCC Hitchcock Auditorium. It's about earthquake preparedness, and while free, seating is limited; call (541) 382-2142 or info@mounatainriver.redcross.org to find out more.
• In June, Deschutes Brewery is celebrating their 21st birthday on the 27th with a "back lot barbecue" featuring the first keg of Black Butte XXI, the Woody barrel, live music, and a bunch of rare Reserve Series beers being poured. It's all taking place in the parking lot behind their main pub on Bond Street.

Lindsey with Ruff Wear writes in to let us know about an event coming up this Saturday:

To celebrate the opening of the new off-leash dog park at Riverbend Beach in Bend, Oregon, Ruff Wear is hosting a demonstration and fitting event for our Big EddyT and PortageT lifejackets.

Come join us to try out and test the latest in canine water safety.

Date:
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Location:
Bend, OR
Street:
Columbia Street and the Old Mill
City/Town:
Bend, OR

Here is more info on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=73846369537

Riverbend Beach is apparently the new park just southwest of the Columbia Street bridge in the Old Mill District.

The next Ignite Bend event is just around the corner (June 4), and right now they're in the "selection" phase—picking which of the many submitted presentations will make it to the final event on the Fourth.

To that end, they've posted for a call to crowdsourcing: even if you don't plan on attending, you can vote on which presentations should be selected, and tomorrow (Friday) there's an in-person function you can go to:

Join us for a no-host mixer and cast your ballot at our “Selection Election” at The Wine Shop (55 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend) on Friday, May 22 at 4:30pm. We’ll be collecting ballots until around 6:30pm but you are welcome to stay and mingle. There will be beer and wine specials and… of course lots of socializing!

After work today we stopped in to the Eastside Longboard Louie's for a drink and appetizer, and I have to blog this: they have $2 pints of beer all day, every day.

No kidding! My wife told me about it some time back, but I thought that meant they had a happy hour, or a locals night or something. No. It's $2 always, as near as I can tell.

(I don't know if they have this at their Westside location also—anyone?)

And we're talking good beer selections, too—nearly all the local microbrewers are represented (at least two each from Deschutes, Bend Brewing, Silver Moon, 10 Barrel, and Cascade Lakes), as well as others.

It may well be the best beer deal in town.

So I got this in email today and even though it's basically a press release, I like its brevity.

Also: local musicians/groups/artists, send me info about your upcoming local shows. I'll definitely put it in the calendar and maybe promote it here on the main blog too.

Bend's newest eclectic jam-rock group Broken Down Guitars to play at Bottoms Up - Sunriver on May 23, 2009 at 9:00

Sunriver, Oregon, May 23, 2009. Bend's newest eclectic jam rock group, The Broken Down Guitars, will play at Bottoms Up Bar and Grill in Sunriver starting at 9:00. Soulful rock vocals, electric guitar riffs mixed with original writing make this group a must-see. With powerhouse lead singer/ rhythm guitar player Stacie Johnson, A.J. Blum on lead electric guitar, Jamie Houghton on bass and David Potter on drums, Broken Down Guitars will perform original songs often inspired by local poet Jamie Houghton's award-winning lyrics. Broken Down Guitars has recently played to packed houses at The Bend Distillery Downtown Martini Bar, The M & J Tavern, and the Silver Moon Brewing Company. Check out the band website at http://www.myspace.com/brokendownguitars.

Not that I've attended in past years, but I completely missed the Pole Pedal Paddle this year, being out of town. It's one of those big events that I've blogged about in the past, but didn't get to this year—it's one of those events that everyone already knows about.

Congrats to everyone who competed and finished, though! A quick look at the overall results is impressive, with almost a thousand teams (or individuals) finishing in under 5 hours. Wow.

Jake  is talking up the free Cascade Winds Symphonic Band concert again: Sunday, May 31st, it's the last concert of the season:

The Cascade Winds Symphonic Band will present the third and final concert of their 2008-2009 season May 31, 2:00 p.m. at Summit High School auditorium. This concert is free of charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.

This third concert of the Winds season includes a variety of band standards, solo features, orchestra transcriptions and marches that demonstrate the excitement and richness of great wind band literature.

You can't beat that price.

Two items from May 1st which got missed the first time around, both dealing with the local news media's economic troubles:

• Oregon Media Insiders reports Major Cuts at KOHD: "Non-renewed contracts, I'm told, include sports reporter Rachel Azevedo, reporter Allison Martin (once the weekend anchor when they had a weekend show) and anchor Jay Frank, who's still got a year on his contract. The 5 pm producer/assignment editor is an outright layoff..."
• And over at The Source, H. Bruce Miller says Bulletin Employees Hit With Pay Cut: "The tough times that have battered newspapers across the country have hit home in Bend: Staffers at The Bulletin and its parent company, Western Communications Inc., were told yesterday that they’ll be taking pay cuts of up to 10%."

Also read the comments; interesting stuff to be found there.

Of course, it's not just the economy hurting the news these days; in this age of the internet (and blogs and twitter and craigslist and social media), traditional media is taking big hits.

Baker City Kina has some interesting comments following up on this too (street cred: she used to work for the Bulletin).

Got the latest press release for the Renegade Rollergirls next bout: The Renegade Rumble on Saturday, May 23rd.

The Renegade Rollergirls; Bend's only non-profit Roller Derby League, will hold their 7th and last bout of their 3rd season at Midtown Music Hall, located on Greenwood Ave. The Renegades will be competing in an co-ed bouting event titled, The Renegade Rumble, including skaters from Medford and Salem. This is a no holds barred bout, full of hardcore skating abilities, wipeouts, bumps, bruises and cat fighting fistfights. This event is sponsored by, Coca Cola, The Source, 92.7FM, Action Typesetting and Printing, THEM! Marketing, Silver Moon Brewery, Long Board Louies, and Midtown Music Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m., Admission is $10.00 and kids 10 and under are free. Presale tickets are available at Riverside Market, Aspect, or from your favorite rollergirl. Tickets are also available for purchased at the door beginning at 2pm the day of the event.

The event will be played at Midtown Music Hall, located at 51 NW Greenwood Ave, downtown Bend, Oregon.

All presell ticket holders will receive a free raffle ticket for the nights raffle prizes.

It's been awhile since I've seen a COWPU notice, but there's one up today:

We are going to have our scheduled meeting (last Wednesday of the month) on the 27th out at Altrec.com. I know what your thinking- you don't want to drive out to Redmond. [T]here will be food at this months meeting! I just wanted to get the work out that COWPU is definitely having an official meeting in May. Here is the tentative schedule (we're going to start things a smidge late so people can make the journey).

5:15 - Arrive and network
5:45 - Announcements / Handout books / Draw for door prize
6:00 - Watch a sweet presentation

An anonymous tipster wrote in to say, "DiLusso on Galveston has a big sign outside that says that location is closed, and folks should visit the downtown shop."

I haven't been down Galveston lately so I haven't seen this; but wasn't the Galveston location where they baked most of their pastries and items? Anyone have a scoop?

The Bulletin has launched their first blog: Frequency, featuring music reviews and news from Bend and Central Oregon. It's written by Ben Salmon, the key player responsible for the Bulletin's Near/Far (the freely-downloadable music compilations), and the "mission statement", as it were, is:

Here at Frequency, I’ll aim to keep you up to date on all things music, period. If a big show is announced for Bend (or a surrounding town), I’ll let you know about it. If something sells out, you’ll read about it here. Did you hear that a concert was canceled? Check out Frequency for the up-to-date info.

You’d better believe, too, that I’ll be covering Central Oregon’s local artists from top to bottom. From new collaborations to break-ups, high-school garage bands to veteran folkies, DJs to jam-grass groups, Frequency will have regular updates about the region’s endlessly inventive musicians.

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in national music news and give you my take on what’s going on and how it could affect the way you consume your favorite sounds.

A cursory glance at the site is revealing, with a Flickr photostream, a Flash plugin radio player, Twitter account and followers, and more.

All in all, looks really promising and if you're into the local music scene you should follow it. I already foresee good Hack Bend fodder from it...

I admit it, I got a kick out of this email, which is otherwise pretty obvious advertising:

Looking for a Luscious Mother's Day Package - Treat that special mama in your life with a unique package from Edible Arrangements and Anjou Spa & Salon. This yummy package includes a signature treatment from Anjou Spa. While she's luxuriating, Edible Arrangements will deliver a delicious arrangement of fresh fruit and chocolate to her home. Cost: $165. Contact Anjou for information at 541-383-8000.

Aren't interested in the package? Edible Arrangements® has a fresh fruit bouquets available, starting at $34. Call 541-585-1082 or visit EdibleArrangements.com. It isn't too late to order for delivery on May 10th.

(The "obvious advertising" refers of course to the second paragraph. With an ® and everything!)

I don't believe I'd heard of Anjou Spa. They bill themselves as the only "Green" spa in Bend and support the Anjou pear market... which in retrospect makes their Mother's Day Package with Edible Arrangements make sense.

The Oregon CrossFit Championships will be held on Saturday, May 30th, 2009, in Bend, OR from 9 am to 6 pm. Participating athletes will test all ten elements of fitness performing bodyweight, weightlifting and endurance movements at stations along a course in the Old Mill District on the Deschutes River Centennial Loop and in Farewell Bend Park. The course will be short, at less than 2 miles, and should take most participants between 15 and 30 minutes, but will be very intense, challenging and fun! The exact course and movements will be posted the week of the event.

This event is open to ALL levels with Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Elite Classes for both men and women. We will award the winner of every category and the top 3 in advanced and elite. The finals event will be held at 5pm that evening. Athletes must place in the top 8 advanced or elite in the first event to qualify for the finals. The public is invited to come down and watch the competition.

The Oregon CrossFit Championships is the largest CrossFit competition in Oregon and the annual event that will determine who the fittest Oregonians are. The top athletes from the other 15 CrossFit Affiliates across the state are expected to compete for the team trophy. Winners from the Men’s and Women’s Advanced categories will be awarded an all expense-paid trip to the 3rd Annual CrossFit Games July 10th-12th in Aromas, CA (see www.crossfitgames.com).

This event is limited to the first 200 athletes. Registration fee is $20.00, which includes an official event t-shirt. The deadline is May 25th at 6pm. To register online go to www.oregoncrossfit.com or register by phone at 541-923-3433. Check-in can be completed between 7am and 8am prior to the event or you can attend the early-bird check in-party at Central Oregon CrossFit at 50 SW Bond #4 at 6pm on May 29, 2009.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to benefit Saving Grace (formally COBRA). Saving Grace provides comprehensive family violence and sexual assault services and promotes the value of living life free from violence. Saving Grace works to support healthy families in our community. To learn more about the services of Saving Grace please visit www.saving-grace.org.

For more information on the First Annual Oregon CrossFit Championships, call 541-923-3433 or go on line to www.oregoncrossfit.com. To find out more about CrossFit, the “School of Fitness”, class schedules and fees, call COC at 923-3433 or visit them at www.centraloregoncrossfit.com.

Sunriver Sunfest, Central Oregon’s most prestigious wine festival, will be held this year on July 24-26, 2009 in the Village at Sunriver. The festival will kick off Friday night with a wine pairing dinner at Marcellos. Saturday, the festival is open from 12pm until 9pm and will resume again on Sunday from 11am to 3 pm. Over 30 wineries will attend from throughout the West.

Admittance into the festival is free and wines will be sold by the taste, glass, bottle and case. Signature wine glasses will be for sale at the festival entrance. Also, Saturday guests can participate in the VIP area with appetizers and unlimited tastings for $75 per person or $500 for tables of 8, tickets should be pre-purchased. The local shop retailers in the Village at Sunriver will be open in addition to vendors selling unique and one of a kind hand-crafted items.

And of course, Sunfest enjoys the fact that it is a family-friendly festival. Kids of all ages can enjoy the mini golf, bumper cars, facepainting, and inflatable slide that will be set up for the weekend.

Sunriver Sunfest is a premier wine festival in Central Oregon, offering both locals and visitors to Central Oregon the opportunity to experience wines from throughout the region at the Village at Sunriver for the past 20 years. A portion of the Sunfest profits will be donated to the Newberry Habitat for Humanity. Please visit www.sunriversunfest.com or call 541-385-7988.

Wow, that was fast: following up on my rumor news yesterday that Fireside Red was closed, the Bulletin today had a more detailed article confirming it. The main reasons were economic (no real surprise there).

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum the Bulletin reports (also today) that Jack in the Box will be opening up in the former Denny's location (the building was demolished a month ago). They plan to open up in August.

Interesting but unsurprising trending there.

It's all over Twitter today (but I haven't seen it anywhere else, which is interesting) that Fireside Red—who you might recall just closed and re-opened after retooling or something—is now closed for good. Or will be closing. Or something, I'm not sure of the timeframe here.

The most plausible of the Twitter posts I've seen are from bendeats (AKA Bend Oregon Restaurants). BOR is pretty spot-on about this stuff.

Place any bets if another restaurant will take up shop in that space?

The other day I was updating the calendar with the Silver Moon Brewing schedule and I noticed one of the events is the "Epic Trail Ale release party." Wasn't totally sure what it was until Beer Northwest today ran a post about it.

Silver Moon Brewing Company in cooperation with the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance, the Tumalo Langlauf Club and the Central Oregon Trail Alliance are proud to announce the launch of "Epic Trail Ale" - a joint fundraiser and ongoing program to benefit human powered activities in Central Oregon.

Epic Trail Ale, a delightful, light Scottish ale conceived by the brewers at Silver Moon, will be available in 22 oz. bottles featuring artwork by local graphic artist Dave Caplan and will also be available by the pint at the Silver Moon Brewery.

The release party is this Friday, the 8th, starting at 6pm and lasting until closing. Pints and cases of the beer ($45 per case) will be available for purchase too.

Friday after work we popped in to Deschutes Brewery to try the newly-released Mirror Mirror, and in a shameless bit of self-promotion I'm pointing you to my beer blog to read about it. Suffice to say it is a very worthy beer to get while it's still available on tap.

I also tried a taster of their Gluten Free Golden Ale out of curiosity. It was very different—it's not made from barely but instead from sorghum, brown rice, and roasted chestnuts and is 100% gluten free. I found it to be sour-ish and very light with a different character than "beer" but at some point I will probably order a glass to figure it out.

Bend Brewing Company should have a very interesting beer on tap soon, a "Stein (Stone) Beer" brewed in collaboration with Lost Abbey brewmaster Tomme Arthur. What makes this notable is the "hot rocks" method of brewing by placing glowing-hot rocks into the brew kettle, causing the wort (unfermented beer) to boil rather than by traditionally, you know, heating the kettle with flame underneath.

Stein beers I've tasted elsewhere are quite delicious, so I have high hops for this one. In fact, I believe it's named "Hot Rocks" and may in fact be on tap now—the website hasn't been updated in a while. Call down to see.

I had previously mentioned the Brew Shop stocking specialty beer; I've been in there a few times since and can verify that they have filled their coolers nicely and offer one of the biggest specialty beer selections in town. (Whole Foods and Newport Market are still impressive, too.) They're located at 2524 NE Division, just down the street from the newly opened Rivals.