​Welcome to the Downtown Bend Newsletter, News from the ❤️️ of Bend! With the sunshine on the rise and Covid on the decline, there has never been a better time to get out and enjoy the historic heart of Bend. We are particularly excited to start enjoying all the lovely patios around downtown without four layers of winter gear on!

This week our favorite spot to grab drinks is Velvet, with a cocktail list that will inspire you to try something new! We long for the days when their signature group drink, ‘The Barrel’ is available again. However, for the time being we have been enjoying the sweet blend of maraschino liquor, fresh squeezed grapefruit affectionately known as the Hemmingway Daiquiri.

Searching for a great new spot to grab a delicious and healthy snack, look no further than Blissful Spoon. You can find many of their products in your neighborhood grocery store, for an even tastier selection of scrumptious bites, swing by their new to the downtown location right off of Newport Ave.  

In-person or online, we've made it easy for you to support local Downtown Bend merchants:  For a list of Downtown Bend businesses: click here, for online shopping links: click here, for curbside pick-up and delivery from Downtown Bend restaurants: click here. 

​Stroll along Wall Street in downtown Bend and you’ll have a hard time resisting the cheerful window displays of Clementine Urban Mercantile. Step inside the ultra-feminine shop and cheer will certainly be your shopping companion from start to finish. Part women’s clothing store, part high end handbag boutique, part housewares haven, Clementine is a destination that invites you to slow down and explore every display. Visitors can pick up tasteful Bend-branded mementos as well as handcrafted jewelry and soap made right here in Central Oregon. Seasonal items are carried in a constant rotation so there is always something new to discover and to tempt you. Paper goods and desk accessories lend a tongue-in-cheek air to any work spaces. Small paintings and other works of art rendered by the most talented hands are sure to delight. Treat yourself to a gorgeous new bag from Hobo, Ellington or Nino Bossi. Find tunics, yoga wear, sweaters, tees, and more in the softest fabrics and most flattering styles. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift or a pick-me-up for yourself, Clementine Urban Mercantile delights every time.
Thanks @visitbend for the article

​Filson Field Flannel, this lightweight, comfortable, and dependable—a new Filson classic in the making. This is the perfect shirt for those transition seasons when you just don’t know what the weather is going to do. Built with durable midweight brushed cotton as soft as it is strong Military-grade melamine buttons are virtually unbreakable. Button-adjustable cuffs. Garment washed for a well-worn feel on day one. Available downtown at Revolvr menswear, as well as tons of other great styled shirts!

It was a fabulous week in Downtown Bend! 

This week we once again took a look at our alleys and invested in some deep cleaning, and some vendor management.  Downtown Bend is in desperate need of more full community care in regards to alleyways in downtown.   While the DBBA continues to put in every effort to keep alleyways clean, we can not do it alone.  We need the support of the businesses, the vendors, and the City of Bend to bring our alleyways up to a higher standard. 

We also worked this week on getting ready for flowers and flower baskets!  Whoohooo!  Last year, COVID19 reduced our budget by ~50%, making it impossible for us to provide the usual flowers for our community.   This year, even with our budget that continues to be reduced by the impact of COVID19, we are committed to finding the funding for flower baskets.  We did, however, notice several flower hangers that are no longer useable, and flower planters that need a bit of refreshing.  We are hoping to find ways to fix these assets before May.  We are also looking at ways to redistribute our flower assets more uniformly throughout the EID.

One of the really fun things that we did this week was begin to plan Oktoberfest 2021.  We are reimagining Oktoberfest this year, and planning a 3-week long event.  If you are interested in volunteering this year, please let us know.

The DBBA is a small nonprofit dedicated to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend.