Bend Farmer’s Market returns May 1, celebrating over 20 years

The Bend Farmers Market returns for another season starting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 1, setting up shop in Brooks Alley between Oregon Avenue and Franklin Avenue (behind the Tower Theatre). This year the Farmers Market is celebrating over two decades bringing local produce and goods to downtown Bend. Here’s the press … Continue reading

Shopko will close in April

Our Bend Shopko store is one of the ones caught up in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings the company is going through, and plans to close on April 15. Currently, everything in the store is on sale for 10 to 30% off, though these discounts might get steeper as April … Continue reading

Food 4 Less celebrates its 33rd anniversary this week

Starting today, Wednesday, September 5, Bend’s Food 4 Less grocery store kicks off its 33rd anniversary sale, featuring cheap prices and prize giveaways through next Tuesday, the 11th. I’ve long been a fan of Food 4 Less, it has quality goods at reasonable prices and serves the community well. It’s … Continue reading

Motherhood Maternity closing up shop at the end of the month

Down in the Old Mill District, this handwritten sign is on the door of Motherhood Maternity: “Due to the closing of this store’s location on March 28th, all employees, aside from the manager, quit with no notice. Therefore we will not be able to maintain regular business hours, as the … Continue reading

Simply Bend Souvenirs

There’s a new Bend souvenir shopping source that officially launched online on November 1st: Simply Bend Souvenirs. The online store has a wide variety of Bend-themed knickknacks and souvenir-type items, from key chains and stickers to pint glasses and t-shirts and more. From the about page: Bend souvenirs are not … Continue reading

Small Business Saturday

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday weekend is going well so far, and you survived the Black Friday shopping madness (if you partook). If you chose to forgo Black Friday, or even still need to supplement your holiday shopping, check out Small Business Saturday, largely taking place in downtown Bend tomorrow … Continue reading

The Old Mill Marketplace is now known as the Box Factory

You know the Old Mill Marketplace—the building/shopping complex on the western edge of the Old Mill District adjacent to Arizona Avenue, home to the Atlas Cider tasting room, the Longboard Store, WebCyclery, and others. (Apparently it is home to 32 businesses actually, many more than I realized, and is branded … Continue reading

Central Oregon Locavore is moving

Fans of Central Oregon Locavore will be pleased to learn that the local food marketplace (or permanent indoor farmers market as they call it) is moving into a new, larger location on Third Street. And as they grow they are welcoming contributions as well. From their online newsletter: In 2013 … Continue reading

Gift Guide 2015: Museum Memberships

One thing I found while writing my book on Bend’s beer history was definitely a greater appreciation for our local museums. Both the High Desert Museum and the Deschutes Historical Museum are terrific organizations that offer fascinating glimpses into the history, environment, and culture of our region, and annual memberships … Continue reading