This week was a week of split emotions at the DBBA.  DBBA board & staff continue to get vaccinated, and in-person meeting seem like the are closer than they have been in over a year... and at the same time, Deschutes county cases continue to rise and we find ourselves one again facing COVID19 safety restrictions.  So, we take a deep breath, we pivot and we march on.  If you are reading this - make sure to shop local & eat local over these next 3 weeks to support our small businesses!

At the temps gear up for summer, so do we!  We are hiring!  Every summer our staff swells from 3.5 people to 6 or 7 people as we hire the necessary staff to water flowers, hang banners, clean sidewalks.. and all of the other various duties that keep our downtown looking it's very best.  If you are interested in applying, click here. 

Wow!  This week was busy!  We had a plethora of conversations with stakeholders and the public about turning Brooks Promenade into a pedestrian only area for a few hours every day.  There is a tremendous amount of passion for this project, and we believe taking the time to figure out all of the nuts and boults to make it work for everyone is what will give this pilot program the best chance of success. 

We also spent a great deal of time talking to stakeholders and Bend community members about serving on the DBBA Board of Directors.  We are looking for individuals who are passionate about Downtown Bend, and want to join our leadership team.  There is a ton of growth and movement happening right now in our City, and Downtown Bend needs secure leadership to assure that the vision we have for our future is realized amidst all of these other pieces and projects.  If you are interested in applying, click here. 

We are also excited to share our new reimagined plan for Bend Oktoberfest!  
​Our largest fundraiser of the year is Bend Oktoberfest. For over a decade, One hundred percent of the fundraising proceeds from Bend Oktoberfest have gone into Downtown Bend beautification.
This year, we’ve redesigned Bend Oktoberfest with the following intentions:
#1 - To create a win/win for local businesses and Downtown Bend. Our intention is to create an event model that will help local businesses recover from COVID19, (with the dream of someday becoming one of their biggest revenue-generating days of the year). While at the same time, raising much-needed funds for the beautification and growth of Downtown Bend. In fact, we want to raise more funds than we ever have before & put more money into the dreams and visions for our Downtown. Bend Oktoberfest is a grassroots campaign to flood money into our local community.
#2 - To create the most community-centered, goofy, and outrageously fun event in Bend. Our intention is to create an event that will show the colors of our community - featuring local talent, local beer, local foods… the best that our Bend community has to offer. Plus, we want to invite our Bend community to get silly with us, because we know that when we allow ourselves to be silly together – this is when our true colors shine, and laughter and acceptance flourishes. We invite you to join us in being ridiculous for this event… wear your costumes, sing songs about your love of beer, yodel to the mountains, and participate in our outrageous feats of strength.
#3 - To grow Bend strong. Our intention is to create a model where we work together with you, and other community partners, to grow our community into the strongest, truest version of itself. Thrive and help thrive, it really is the way of the future!

The Downtown Bend Business Association is a small nonprofit dedicated to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend!

​Welcome to the Downtown Bend Newsletter, News from the ❤️️ of Bend!

The sun is here to stay and we are here for it, we are excited to start floating the river, as well as get back on our bikes as the trails dry up! With Covid cases on the rise again, don't forget your masks and to practice social distancing, we are fortunate that despite cases rising again hospitalizations aren't spiking as well. Encourage your friends and family to get tested if they are feeling sick or if they are over the age of 16 to get vaccinated

Did you miss our 2021 Mother's day shopping guide? Well here it is!

With Deschutes County moving back into Extreme risk, as well as extending the state of emergency in Oregon, restaurants will be forced back to limited out door dining and take out. ​If you are looking to find how each restaurant will be operating find all of our downtown restaurants listed here. 

Now that we are back to patio only, here are all our favorite spots to soak up some sun and drinks. For a killer patio and the best place to take your pups we recommend Bend Brewing Co. Right next door and with just as incredible view or the Deschutes river is Pine Tavern, who is actually celebrating their 21st anniversary today! And just down the Brooks Promenade is The Commons Café & Taproom, with 12 rotating taps and a patio that over looks drake park its hard to find a pretty place to caffeinate. 

They may not have patios over looking the river, but they have the food and service to make up for it, here are our favorite parklets to eat at! We of course have to kick it off with a downtown staple Deschutes Brewery, has built a large parklet with plenty of seating and continues to pour some of the best Pub exclusives beers in-town. With not one but two parklets 900 Wall is always a great option if you are looking for delicious food and a great spot for some people watching. And right across the street is Bos Taurus, a staple in the fine dining community in Bend, with food so good you can only leave when there's not a single crumb left on your plate. 

​                                Featured Business | Café Sintra 
Manuel dos Santos, owner of Café Sintra in downtown Bend, named the restaurant after his hometown in Portugal, near Lisbon. Café Sintra specializes in delicious, flavorful dishes that pay tribute to Portuguese cuisine. Breakfast and lunch is served daily, with a focus on Portuguese favorites like linguica and eggs, Portuguese stew and gazpacho. Café Sintra recently expanded its menu and hours and now serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday, with a menu featuring the ocean, the ranch, and the garden. You can also bring the taste of Portugal to your next event with catering from Manuel and his team, or rent the restaurant and bring your private event to the intimate space with its unique European charm. A warm atmosphere and friendly service makes Cafe Sintra the perfect place to gather with friends and a cozy stop for a good espresso drink and homemade pastries; the ideal pick-me-up in the middle of a shopping spree through downtown Bend. Almost as near and dear to Manuel’s heart as great cuisine is soccer. He invites family and friends (that includes you!) to watch games at the café and a current game schedule can be found on the café’s website.

                                         Featured Product | National Park Candles 
All natural soy candle handcrafted to impart the scents of the wild and pristine lands of America's National Parks.
Made in small batches in Seattle, WA. All of our products are 100% vegan. 100% eco-friendly. 100% recyclable. Ethically sourced + produced. Never tested on animals. Petroleum free. GMO free. Lead free. Phthalate free. Made in the USA.
Adventure is calling! Mountain themed clothing, gifts and home goods boutique located in historic downtown Bend, Oregon. Check out Scout and Pine for lots of other great products 

                              Are you ready to party?!
      On Saturday, May 8th, at 6:30 pm, community members, business leaders, and parents will come together virtually at the first ever House Party, presented by Qorvo. The event will raise much needed funds to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend’s youth development programs this coming summer. So break out your hypercolor t-shirts and find those crimping irons! House Party promises to be a fun-filled evening of live auction items, food, drinks and a celebration of all things 90s! Guests will travel back in time through our website to celebrate and support the amazing youth that count on Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend each day. And even though we can’t meet in person, we’ll provide everything you need to party virtually together! 
If you want to support this amazing community program, sign up here!

Downtown Digital Bucks
If you missed out last time, now is your chance to get your business set-up to accept Digital Downtown Bucks, sign up here.
If you have questions or are looking for more information about this program go here. 

Oktoberfest
We are bringing back Oktoberfest! Things will be looking a little different this year and a lot bit more fun, if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, or event host, or maybe you have a couple of fun ideas up your sleeve let us know. Feel free to reach out to hayden@downtownbend.org
​
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. 

 Welcome to the Downtown Bend Newsletter, News from the ❤️️ of Bend!

        The sun is here to stay and we are here for it, we are excited to start floating the river, as well as get back on our bikes as the trails dry up! With Covid cases on the rise again, don't forget your masks and to practice social distancing, we are fortunate that despite cases rising again hospitalizations aren't spiking as well. Encourage your friends and family to get tested if they are feeling sick or if they are over the age of 16 to get vaccinated. ​

                                                                             AOS Skincare 
We are going to start with one of our favorite spots in Downtown. 
        AOS Skincare is a modern-day skincare apothecary, Wellness Spa and lab in Bend, Oregon. They blend traditional herbal wisdom with proven plant-based science to reveal your skin’s natural radiance and vitality. By supporting small, organic farms and Fair Trade cooperatives and working towards zero-waste production, we create beauty from the ground up. Every ingredient in our luxuriously effective, small-batch formulations is sustainably grown and harvested to support our “full-circle beauty” philosophy.

                                      Hot Box Betty
     Hot Box Betty is an upscale women’s boutique in the heart of Downtown Bend, Oregon, offering a unique collection of designer clothing, accessories and jewelry. Hot Box Betty strives to provide customers with a warm and welcoming experience while cultivating lasting relationships.
      With hand-selected pieces from New York, Paris, and beyond, Hot Box Betty stocks everyday essentials in women’s wear while incorporating emerging designers, luxury basics, and functional fashion-forward pieces to help you express your personal style. A local staple, a treasured destination shopping experience, Hot Box Betty strives to provide clients with closet favorites! Pop in, stay awhile; the Betties are here to help!

             Silverado​
Silverado Jewelry Gallery in downtown Bend houses the work of over one hundred of the world’s most cutting-edge jewelry artists. Born out of a love of handmade craft since 1998, Silverado sees each piece as an individual work of art, crafted in a studio with its own techniques, raw materials, and perspectives on beauty. Each of the collections is beautifully displayed in well-lit wood and glass tables and rack display cases, in a contemporary setting that is easy to stroll through. From the traditional to the contemporary, Silverado Gallery has something for everyone and a staff that understands the product. Follow them on Facebook as they acquire new jewelry lines, and join their newsletter for updates on sales, trunk shows, discounts, giveaways and more. 

                                                                   Wild Flowers of Oregon
Wild Flowers of Oregon is a full service florist that has blossomed in Bend, Oregon.  Our shop takes immense pride in designing exceptional flower and plant arrangements that hold a unique style.  All of our arrangements are custom made with no recipes, which allows each creation to hold its own beautiful personality.  This design style allows for flexibility so that we can create floral arrangements to any style or price range.  If you fall in love with a  particular Floral Photo,  our designers can accommodate that style to most price ranges.  We also offer alternative gift options such as Euro gardens and lucky bamboo arrangements.  Our cozy shop is always getting in new seasonal gift items that are sure to beautify and bring warmth to any home or garden.

Downtown Digital Bucks
If you missed out last time, now is your chance to get your business set-up to accept Digital Downtown Bucks, sign up here.
If you have questions or are looking for more information about this program go here. 

We are bringing back Oktoberfest! Things will be looking a little different this year and a lot bit more fun, if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, or event host, or maybe you have a couple of fun ideas up your sleeve let us know. Feel free to reach out to hayden@downtownbend.org
​
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. 

Welcome to the Downtown Bend Newsletter, News from the ❤️️ of Bend!

Last week we announced Frist Friday Art Walk would be coming back, unfortunately, with the recent spike in Covid cases and Deschutes County moving back into high risk, we have decided to postpone First Fridays until we are at a safer risk level. We are optimistic about the future, but as we have seen it’s a bit of a roller coaster out here!

Struggling to find a great gift, we have you covered! There is still plenty of time till Mother’s Day, keep your eye’s peeled for our Mother’s Day Gift guide next week.

Have you been to one of Downtown's newest additions? The Cellar, by Porter Brewing company, out of Redmond Oregon! They proudly serve 100% cask-conditioned real ales. "Real ale", a term originally coined in the UK, is a beer that is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and goes through a secondary fermentation in the cask (similar to a keg) where it naturally self-carbonates.

We are bringing back Oktoberfest! Things will be looking a little different this year and a little bit more fun, if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, or event host, or maybe you have a couple of fun ideas up your sleeve let us know. Feel free to reach out to hayden@downtownbend.org
​
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. 

Looking for a great gift idea for mom, or maybe your new friend that just moved to town needs something to help blend in! These barrel top signs available from Lone Crow Bungalow are the perfect and pair with a wide range of interior styles. 

Each barrel end is handcrafted from 0.5” plywood with a 1.5” wide barrel ring, and 24” in diameter. Made in the United States. 

Even though summer doesn’t officially start till June 20th, it feels like summer and we are ecstatic. Bad news is that covid cases have increased a little and unfortunately Deschutes County will be moving back into high risk for the next two weeks, while we work to get cases back down and vaccinations up.
 
As things slowly return to normal, we are excited to announce that First Friday Art Walks are back! May 7th will be the first art walk since March last year, so you can imagine how excited we are. Don’t forget your mask and love of all things Bend.
 
In addition to First Fridays coming back we will also be bringing back Oktoberfest! Things will be looking a little different this year and a little bit more fun, if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, or event host or maybe you have a couple fun ideas up your sleeve let us know. Feel free to reach out to hayden@downtownbend.org
 
This week our favorite spot to grab lunch was Pizza Mondo. With a rotating selection of pizza and beer, there’s no better way to refuel after a day of spring skiing.
 
For a great night cap and some entertainment, we recommend you head over to Duda’s for pool and shuffleboard. With a wide selection of beers and a full bar, there’s something for everyone. 

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. 

​Located in the heart of Downtown Bend across from the historic Tower Theatre, Fjällräven Bend serves the community with premium outdoor gear that lasts a lifetime. Whether you are climbing at Smith Rock, floating down the Deschutes River, or exploring Mt. Bachelor, our highly skilled staff will gladly kit you out for your next adventure. From hard-wearing trousers to parkas, sleeping bags to tents, hiking boots to stoves, Fjällräven Bend has exactly what you need for any climate or activity.