First Friday (May 2011)
Right on the heels of Cinco de Mayo, Friday night is First Friday in Downtown Bend and the Old Mill District (I don’t know if NorthWest Crossing is doing First Fridays anymore, as I can never find info on their website, and there’s nothing (as of this writing) on their Facebook page).
Art galleries and businesses will be open late Friday, from 5 until 9, with special art exhibits and many also offering live music and free food and wine samples—it’s a lively time and with the weather getting nicer, I expect it will be packed. If you need childcare while you’re downtown, the Pottery Lounge is offering “Drop ‘n Hop” from 5 until 8.
In addition to all of the participating downtown businesses listed on the Downtown Bend page, the Old Mill has several and also lists the free shuttle:
Take the Free Artwalk Shuttle offering a continuous loop approximately every 50-60 minutes. Service from 5-9pm. Station 3 is located in the Old Mill District between Lahaina Galleries and REI and picks up at 5:40pm+/- and heads to Atelier 6000 and then downtown.
Make sure to stop in at Atelier 6000, Lahaina Galleries, Lubbesmeyer Studio & Gallery and Tumalo Art Co. for new works of art on view.
And, (since you know I’m all about the beer scene), Deschutes Brewery and Bend Brewing Company each have First Friday events too. At Deschutes:
First Friday Art Walk & BBQ
Deschutes is back on board for the popular downtown Bend First Friday Art Walk! Join the fun pub crew for barbeque, art, live music and, of course, beer, just behind the pub in downtown Bend.
On Tap: Horseridge IPA & Prima Chela plus House Made Sangria
Food: Pulled Pork Spicy Mustard Sliders and Tofu Curry Sliders
Bands: Under the Covers and Greg Botsford
Local (Employee) Artist: Kaylee Brown
First Friday Artwalk-May 6th! Our Artist in Residence program features Mike Putnam’s work to be displayed upstairs in the brewery. Check out www.mikeputnamphoto.com. His amazing Ponderosa photo was chosen for our Outback X label. Friday marks the official bottle release party for the award-winning Outback X! We have a limited number of bottles, so don’t miss this opportunity to have them signed by both Mike Putnam and Tonya Cornett!
Not only is it the first bottled release of Outback X at BBC, but they’ll also be serving chocolate truffles made from Outback X for First Friday (I called them today and learned that).