Blog entries posted in Off Piste

Tonight's Music: Pickwick, Polyrhythmics

Mike Bookey — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:22:11 +0100

I'll cut to the chase here: I've been listening to essentially one band for the past two days and that band is called Pickwick. They are a bunch of nerdy-looking Seattle indie rockers who have, seemingly impossibly, decided to play soul music.

And the soul music they play is incredible. More incredible, perhaps, is the fact that they're playing a free show tonight at McMenamins Old St. Francis School.

Here's a video of the band playing "Hacienda Motel" in the studios at KEXP. If...

PPP Logo Unveiled

Eric Flowers — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:56:41 +0100

We’ve only just received our first real winter storm of the season, but some the folks at MBSEF are already looking forward to the end of the season and the annual Pole, Pedal, Paddle, Central Oregon’s signature multisport race. Event promoter MBSEF unveiled this year’s official logo that will emblazon marketing materials and competitors' ubiquitous commemorative T-shirts. This year’s winning design was developed by Paul Leighton of Stellar Design.

It is to our ...

Win Tickets to Larry and His Flask's NYE Show

Mike Bookey — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:46:57 +0100

As we mentioned in this week's paper, there are some great live shows happening around town for New Year's Eve. One of those shows is Larry and His Flask's show at the Old Stone Church, featuring a seriously cool slate of opening acts.

The show is selling fast, but Rise Up Presents is giv...

Julianne Moore channels Sarah Palin; Tina Fey Eat Your Heart Out

Eric Flowers — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:16:33 +0100

In keeping with our movie trailers theme, this week. Here's an intriguing one of the upcoming Game Change, which features Julianne Moore channeling former Alaska-gov. reality TV star and one time beauty pageant participant Sarah Palin. The movie is based on the book of the same name that chronicles how the then little-known Palin was inserted onto McCain ticket in 2008, a move that ignited John McCain's campaign into a tea party conflagration that had flamed out by election day.

[video...

BLM Acknowledges Rough Handling of Wild Horses

Eric Flowers — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:08:20 +0100

The U.S. largest land management agency acknowledged on Wednesday that it’s contractors had been overly aggressive in their handling of wild horses during a Nevada round-up that was stopped short on judge’s order after animal welfare activists objected to the tactics.

The Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday that its contractor had made mistakes, but said those incidents did not amount to abuse and that the round-up which resulted in the capture of roughly 1,200 wild ho...

Reader Survey: Music Streaming

Ethan Maffey — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:08:46 +0100

A couple of weeks ago I profiled Spotify, one of the newest streaming music services available in the United States. With news last month that the Swedish service has passed the 2.5 million paid subscriber mark worldwide (10 million registered users) and is opening up their API to App developers; I’m starting...

Bend's Bathroom Bandits -- Where are their manners?

Eric Flowers — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:28:30 +0100

Like mugshots, police incidents logs can make for great office banter. Here's a gem from this past week's press log courtesy of the Bend PD. Sorry if it's a little hard to read, but don't worry, you don't have to strain your eyes long to get to the punchline.

Our Deconstruction Project

Eric Flowers — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:03:24 +0100

Downtown denizens have probably taken note of our ongoing construction project here at the Source. We've fielded a few questions already about just what the hell is going on at 704 Georgia, so we figured we'd go right to the source of all this consternation, our contractor Paul Biskup, to explain why the building seems to be disappearing one brick at a time.

In case you can't make out Paul's response from the video due to the ambient traffic noise (who knew cars made so much noise) he'...

Redmond Horse Business Wins Venture Capital Competition

Eric Flowers — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:09:07 +0100

This year's Bend Venture Capital Conference winner is more Butch Cassidy than Bill Gates. A Redmond horse equipment manufacturer took home the top prize, a $250,000 cash investment, at the Bend Venture Conference, organizers announced on Thursday afternoon.

RES Equine reportedly wooed potential investors with its equine safety equipment that has high margins and global appeal, according to Economic Development of...

If You Like Bikinis and Toby Keith...

Eric Flowers — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:56:48 +0100

Toby Keith's lo-fi ode to America's most infamous adult beverage receptacle, the red Solo cup with cameo from the Red Rocker who happens to be celebrating a birthday today.

This ditty isn't going to win a CMA, but it's worth watching if only to puzzle over the montage of disparate cameos, Craig Ferguson, Carrot Top and Ted Nugent all in the same video. Wtf?[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68 400x300]

Joey's OK: Awesome 'Cross Wipeout

Eric Flowers — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:02:40 +0100

Columnist Michelle Bazemore submitted this epic wipeout video from the recent Starcrossed races in Seattle. We're calling it proof that 'Cross is a full contact sport.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGAIYKTZ9w&feature=youtu.be 300x300]

More Musings on the Malty Merriment: Little Woody day 2

James Williams — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:04:47 +0100

Nothing was able to usurp Deschutes's Solace Rose at Little Woody, but some came damn close.

Already a great beer, Ninkasi's Maiden the Shade which was aged in a Ransom Distillery Old Tom Gin barrel, became heavenly. Light on malt and still plenty hoppy, its time in the wooden gin barrel did something magical to the popular brew.

Video of The Shins in Bend

Mike Bookey — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:53:42 +0100

I just got home a bit ago from a very sold-out appearance by The Shins at the Domino Room here in Bend and I'm pleased to say that this rehashed version of the band far exceeded my expectations.

In fact, James Mercer and crew -- cheered on by an incredibly appreciative audience -- looked to be in rare form with an hour-and-a-half-long set that included plenty of hits from the old days as well as a couple new tunes. These small-venue Oregon shows the band is playing were said to be warm...

Bite of Bend Music Schedule: Saturday

Mike Bookey — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:29:50 +0100

Tomorrow, Central Oregon's biggest food and drink festival, The Bite of Bend, gets underway with damn near every type of cuisine and beverage you can think of. And while the food, beer and wine -- in addition to the Top Chef's competition -- garner plenty of attention, The Bite has become...

Like Green Day? Try Some Emily's Army Tonight

Mike Bookey — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:49:52 +0100

We mentioned this in today's paper that is now out on the streets, but there is a band called Emily's Army playing tonight at the Mad Happy Lounge and they're worth checking out.

First of all, the band is made up of Bay Area kids between the ages of 15 and 17 and the drummer, Joey, is the son of Billy Joe Armstrong. Recognize that name? Yeah, he's the lead singer of Green Day. He also produced his son's band's debut album, Don't Be a Dick -- which is actually pretty damn good punk rock...

Scanlon's Restaurant to Re-Open on June 25.

Sage Stargrove — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:04:40 +0100

Scanlon's restaurant, located in the Athletic Club of Bend, will be reopening on Saturday, June 25. The revitalized dinning room now offers a “new menu designed to nourish and refuel both body and soul,” said a press release issued by the Athletic Club.

The restaurant, which has been closed since late April, remodeled their...

Snoop Dogg Proposes TV Show to Find "America's hottest hood artists"

Sage Stargrove — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:37:05 +0100

For all you Snoop Dogg fans who cannot seem to get enough of your favorite rapper, you may get the chance to see him on TV weekly.

Snoop Dogg has proposed his own TV show, which according to Paste Magazine, will find “America’s hottest hood artists.” The proposed search-for-the-best-rap-artist show will be comp...

Central Oregon's Breweries Take Home Medals at North American Beer Awards

Mike Bookey — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:02:30 +0100

At last weekend's North American Beer Awards Bend's brewing contingent made a strong showing with four of our breweries taking home medals from the annual competition that featured more than 1,000 entries.

Deschutes Brewery took home a total of four medals, including a gold m...

Free Bike Rodeo For Kids on Saturday

Sage Stargrove — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:55:22 +0100

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s office is putting a new twist on rodeos. Offering children ages 4-12 the chance to participate in a Bike Rodeo. According to a media release by Sheriff’s Office, the Rodeo will include bike safety, helmet inspection, road safety and “much, much more!&r...

Bend City Council Votes to Continue Affordable Housing Fee

James Williams — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:23:15 +0100

It seems that Bend’s city councilors did the right thing Wednesday night — sort of — in regard to the affordable housing fee attached to new building permits.

Some background: Any builder seeking to do what they do, must get a building permit. Since 2006, a fee has been attached to the permit (one-third of 1 percent of permit valuation) that would benefit Bend’s affordable housing, a project that has raised about 2.7 million dollars. Currently, construction is o...